Which statement about drying crystals is true?

• A. It prevents complete loss of water and helps prevent crystals from breaking
• B. It speeds up drying
• C. It purifies crystals
• D. It changes the crystal color

Answer: (A)

Drying crystals is about removing the surface moisture while keeping the water that is part of the crystal’s solid lattice. In many hydrated crystals, water molecules are integral to the structure; removing all of that water would destabilize the lattice and make the crystals brittle or cause them to crumble. By drying, you remove excess surface moisture but avoid driving off all the water of crystallization, which helps keep the crystals intact. This is why the best statement is that drying prevents complete loss of water and helps prevent crystals from breaking.