Question

(a) Define efflorescence. Give examples.

(b) Define deliquescence. Give examples.

Answer 1

(a) Efflorescence is the property of some substances to lose wholly, or partly their water of crystallization when their crystals are exposed to dry air even for a short time. Examples are: Washing soda, Glauber's salt, Epsom salt

(b) Certain water-soluble substances, when exposed to the atmosphere at ordinary temperature, absorb moisture from the atmospheric air to become moist and ultimately dissolve in the absorbed water, forming a saturated solution. For example Caustic soda, Caustic potash