A device for facilitating a chemical reaction that includes an upper member, a lower member, and a dissolvable member disposed between them such that upper and lower chambers are formed having substantially equal volumes. The upper chamber receives a dry sodium chlorite and the lower chamber receives a dry acid mixture. The upper and lower members are joined, thereby sealing the upper and lower chambers and enabling the joined upper and lower members to be disposed in water such that said lower member engages the water first. The joined upper and lower members swell with absorbed water to engage the dry sodium chlorite and the dry acid mixture to form slurries to dissolve the dissolvable member to allow the slurries to react to generate chlorine dioxide gas that passes through the upper and lower members and into a space to be disinfected and/or deodorized.