After use it is a liquid. Just a bag full of liquid with, I guess, the calcium chloride suspended in it. I have a pool and use powder calcium chloride to balance the hardness/calcium level. It pours in as a powder and quickly dissolves. I would think this is the same stuff, but wonder if there is something else that makes it different.
I use the silica beads as desiccant in my gun safes. I use the contained system where once it indicates saturated, it plugs in and dehumidifies. I also have a bunch of bags that I recharge in the oven at 175 degree F.