Desiccators are laboratory apparatuses that are used for drying salts. Desiccators are usually made of glass or plastic and consist of a shallow dish with a lid that has a ground glass or rubber stopper. The dish is filled with a desiccant, such as silica gel or calcium chloride, which absorbs moisture from the air. The lid of the desiccator has a stopcock that can be used to create a vacuum, which further helps to dry the salts.