What is Hygroscopy and Deliquescence?
Dear Student,
Hygroscopy.-This is when substances absorb water from air, but not enough to form solutions.
Deliquescence, the process by which a substance absorbs moisture from the atmosphere until it dissolves in the absorbed water and forms a solution.Deliquescence occurs when the vapour pressure of the solution that is formed is less than the partial pressure of water vapour in the air 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.
Hope it is clear
Regards