How can saline hydrides remove traces of water from organic compounds?

Explanation

Saline hydrides (e.g., NaH, `CaH_(2)`, etc.) react with water at room temperature to form corresponding hydroxides with the liberation of `H_(2)` gas. Due to this property, they can be used to remove traces of water from organic compounds. The organic compound to be purified is distilled over a saline hydride when `H_(2)` escapes into the atmosphere and metal hydroxide is left in the residue left in the distillation flask. The organic compound free from moisture distils over.