2 replies to this topic

[pymp]

Having heard the term "hydroscopic" used frequently to describe the ability for a chemical or material to absorb water from the atmosphere, I was suprised to find out that the term has nothing to do with this.
Hydroscopic is pertaining to a "hydroscope";

*hydroscopic*:

Noun
An optical device used for viewing objects far below the surface of water.
Other forms
hy'dro?scop'ic adj.

Whereas Hygroscopic seems to be the correct term;

*hygroscopic*:

Adjective
Readily absorbing moisture, as from the atmosphere.
Other forms
hy'gro?scop'i?cal?ly adv.hy'gro?sco?pic'i?ty n.

However, this site seems to suggest that neither words can be used to describe a material's ability to absorb water. (Although the definition it then provides for hygroscopic seems somewhat contradictory).

I apologise if this is, infact, old news.

Dave

[Richard H]

The way it is pronounced may be a cause for people misspelling it.

[pyromaniac303]

The way it is pronounced may be a cause for people misspelling it.

Everyone thinks 'Water, hydration etc, so it must be hydro!' but a hygrometer is used for measuring humidity or the vapour content of a gas (I use one at work for testing things).