Question

Many salts absorb water from the atmosphere. This property is called:

• A. Hydration
• B. Dehydration
• C. Efflorescence
• D. Deliquescence.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Deliquescence.

Explanation for correct answer

(D) Deliquescence

1. It is the process by which a substance absorbs moisture from the atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution.
2. Deliquescence occurs when the vapor pressure of the Solution that is formed is less than the partial pressure of water vapor in the gas.
3. Hence option (D) is correct.

Explanation for incorrect answer

(A) Hydration

1. It is process of causing something to absorb water.
2. It is absorption of water of anything from the atmosphere.
3. Hence, option (A) is incorrect.

(B) Dehydration

1. Dehydration is the loss or absence of water molecules from the body or atmosphere.
2. Hence, option (B) is incorrect.

(C) Efflorescence

1. It is the spontaneous loss of water from a hydrated salt.
2. It occurs when the aqueous vapor pressure of the hydrate is greater than the partial pressure of water vapor in the air.
3. Hence option (C) is incorrect.

Therefore, the property of salts to absorb water from the atmosphere is called as Deliquescence. Hence option (D) is incorrect.