Question

Give two examples each of deliquescent salts and efflorescent salts?

Answer 1

Deliquescent salts

• When salts that lack water molecules are exposed to the atmosphere, they absorb moisture from the air and become moist. Deliquescent salts are the name for these salts.
• Examples of Deliquescent salts are calcium chloride $\left({\mathrm{CaCl}}_2\right)$ and magnesium chloride $\left({\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\right)$.

Efflorescent salts

• When certain hydrates are exposed to the air, they lose some or all of their water of crystallization molecules, resulting in a powder. Efflorescent salts are the name for such salts.
• Examples of Efflorescent salts are washing soda$\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3.10{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$ and Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate $\left({\mathrm{MgSO}}_4.7{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$.