Question

what is the difference between hygroscopic and deliquescent ?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Deliquescent substances and hygroscopic substances both are the water attracting or absorbing substances. Such substance becomes moist or wet when placed in damp or moist environment by absorbing water.

Hygroscopic substances become wet while deliquescent substance dissolve after absorbing moisture. This is the major difference between these two closely related terms.

For e.g. CaCl₂ and NaOH are deliquescent while sucrose and glycerol are hygroscopic.