48. Deliquesce, verb. From Latin deliquescere, “to melt.” In biology, of organic matter, to liquefy in the course of decomposition. In chemistry, the term refers to a particular way for a solid to become a liquid. Some substances are so hygroscopic (have so much affinity for water) that they will, even if merely exposed to moist air, actually absorb enough liquid to dissolve. You can observe the effects of this phenomenon if you leave table salt out in a humid environment—a thin surface layer of salt crystals becomes liquid, causing them to clump together. This is deliquescence. It can be prevented by the addition of rice to the salt. Rice, too, has an affinity for water—but it has much more of a capacity to take in moisture without dissolving. A tendency to soak up what’s beloved to you can sometimes go too far.

Feb 17 -

48. Deliquesce, verb. From Latin deliquescere, “to melt.” In biology, of organic matter, to liquefy in the course of decomposition. In chemistry, the term refers to a particular way for a solid to become a liquid. Some substances are so hygroscopic (have so much affinity for water) that they will, even if merely exposed to moist air, actually absorb enough liquid to dissolve.


You can observe the effects of this phenomenon if you leave table salt out in a humid environment—a thin surface layer of salt crystals becomes liquid, causing them to clump together. This is deliquescence. It can be prevented by the addition of rice to the salt. Rice, too, has an affinity for water—but it has much more of a capacity to take in moisture without dissolving.


A tendency to soak up what’s beloved to you can sometimes go too far.

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