Question

State what would you observe when :
(i) Washing soda crystals are exposed to the atmosphere.
(ii) The salt ferric chloride is exposed to the atmosphere.

Answer 1

(i) Washing soda crystals are efflorescent substance. Efflorescent substance loses their water of crystallisation when exposed to an atmosphere. Hence, when washing soda crystalsare exposed to the atmosphere they lose their water of crystallisation and become amorphous.

(ii) Ferric chloride is a deliquescent salt. Deliquescent salt is opposite of efflorescent salt. It absorbs water vapour from the atmosphere and dissolves in it.