[Charkol]

In Lab we have made cyclohexene from cyclohexanol. 

The last reaction I am to delineate is the removal of water from the cyclohexene product.  I am not sure about how exactly this 'reaction' is taking place.  I have looked around a bit and have found different answers.

Some say that there is no reaction at all...that in this situation, the water molecules just 'gather' around the CaCl₂ molecules.

Others say that in this situation the product of this 'reaction' are CaOH and Cl₂ gas.

Any help to resolve this question will be appreciated.

[Borek]

Some say that there is no reaction at all...that in this situation, the water molecules just 'gather' around the CaCl₂ molecules.

You can put it this way, although this IS kind of a reaction. Hydrated calcium chloride is stable and can be separated from the reaction products.

[Charkol]

Thanks, this is what I was hoping, as this made more sense to me.  I noticed that the hydrated form of these desiccators is written as [CaCl2*6H2O].  This doesn't imply a reorginizational reaction, and thankfully there is no bond breaking.
Thanks Much