Some chemical reactions require extremely dry solvents. This is because water can interfere with chemical reactions in many different ways. If the product of a reaction is water, any excess water can prevent the reaction from occurring because of the Le Chatlier principle. In other words, if the equilibrium constant for the reaction favors the reactants, and water is a product, the other product will not be formed. Water is very reactive and often unwanted reactions will happen if water is present. This is particularly a problem in organometallic chemistry. To obtain extremely dry solvents, solvent delivery systems or stills are often used. Organic solvents are often distilled over sodium, because it reacts violently with water and removes even trace amounts from the liquid.
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