Molecular sieves are crystalline metal aluminosilicates having a 3-dimensional interconnecting network of silica and alumina tetrahedra. Natural water of hydration is removed from this network by heating to produce uniform cavities which selectively adsorb molecules of a specific size. The 3A form is made by substituting potassium cations for the inherent sodium ions of the 4A structure, reducing the effective pore size to ~3?, excluding diameter >3?, e.g., ethane. The 4 to 8-mesh type is normally used in gas-phase applications. Molecular sieves are considered a universal drying agent in polar and nonpolar media.