Deliquesce

Deliquesce is a verb that describes the process by which a substance, particularly certain salts, absorbs moisture from the environment and dissolves in the absorbed water to form a liquid solution. This phenomenon commonly occurs in hygroscopic substances, leading to a transition from solid to liquid states under specific humidity conditions.

Deliquesce meaning with examples

• When left exposed to high humidity, the salt crystals began to deliquesce, transforming into a puddle of salty brine that spread across the countertop, demonstrating just how much moisture they absorbed from the air.
• Certain types of powdered sugar can deliquesce in humid weather, causing them to clump together and form a sticky paste that can be difficult to work with when baking cakes or pastries.
• In the laboratory, chemists must hydrate certain salts carefully to avoid accidental deliquescence, as moisture absorption can lead to inaccurate measurements and affect experimental results.
• As the temperature rose, the ice cream started to deliquesce, losing its solid form and creating a messy, sugary liquid that pooled at the bottom of the cone, much to the child's delight.
• The deliquescent nature of calcium chloride makes it useful as a desiccant, as it readily absorbs moisture from the air, making it an effective agent for keeping environments dry.