deliquescent
pronunciation
How to pronounce deliquescent in British English: UK [ˌdelɪ'kwesənt]
How to pronounce deliquescent in American English: US [ˌdelə'kwesənt]
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- Adjective:
- (especially of certain salts) becoming liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Word Origin
- deliquescent (adj.)
- 1791, in chemistry, from Latin deliquescentem (nominative deliquescens), present participle of deliquescere (see deliquesce). General use dates from 1866. Related: Deliquescence.
Example
- 1. Sucrose slaked lime is deliquescent in water .
- 2. Ammonium nitrate contains 35 per cent n but is used only in mixtures because the pure salt is very deliquescent , and there is a risk that is may explode .