A substance that attracts water molecules from the environment through either absorption or adsorption is called what?
Hygroscopy Hygroscopy Hygroscopy is the phenomenon of attracting and holding water molecules from the surrounding environment, which is usually at normal or room temperature. This is achieved through either absorption or adsorption with the adsorbing substance becoming physically changed somewhat. This could be an increase in volume, boiling point, viscosity, or other physical characteristic or property of the substance, as water molecules can become suspended between the substance's molecules in the process. The word "hygroscopy" () uses combining forms of "hygro-" and "-scopy". Unlike any other "-scopy" word, it no longer refers to a viewing or imaging mode. It did begin
Absorption (chemistry) a material's weight made up by water is called the "moisture regain". Absorption (chemistry) In chemistry, absorption is a physical or chemical phenomenon or a process in which atoms, molecules or ions enter some bulk phase – liquid or solid material. This is a different process from adsorption, since molecules undergoing absorption are taken up by the volume, not by the surface (as in the case for adsorption). A more general term is "sorption", which covers absorption, adsorption, and ion exchange. Absorption is a condition in which something takes in another substance. In many processes important in technology, the chemical