the.com/hygroscopic
the party guest that will not stop drinking the room dry.
means describes a substance that readily absorbs moisture from its surrounding air.
from from greek hygros meaning wet plus skopein meaning to observe, coined in the 19th century for instruments and substances that betray water in the air.
salt clumpstable salt hardens because it grabs humidity
silica gelpackets absorb moisture to keep goods dry
honey never spoilsits hygroscopy starves bacteria of water
skin feels itglycerin pulls moisture from air into skin
for instance
silica gel packets — stuffed in shoeboxes and jerky bags to fight humidity
table salt — clumps in humid kitchens without added anticaking agents
honey — ancient egyptian jars still edible after 3000 years
calcium chloride — used in dehumidifiers to pull liters of water from air