Term: deliquescence
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01582

Definition:
The process that occurs when the vapour pressure of the saturated aqueous solution of a substance is less than the vapour pressure of water in the ambient air. When water vapour is collected by the pure solid compound, a mixture of the solid and liquid or an aqueous solution of the compound forms until the substance is dissolved and is in equilibrium with its environment; at this time the vapour pressure of water over the aqueous solution will equal the partial pressure of water in the atmosphere in contact with it. A crystalline salt aerosol particle will deliquesce in the atmosphere when the relative humidity surpasses a characteristic value, the so-called deliquescence point.

Related Terms:
1) partial pressure (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04420).
2) salt (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05447).
3) aerosol (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00176).
4) relative humidity (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.R05267).

Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2183 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)

Citation: 'deliquescence' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.D01582

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