Water vapor sorption of water-soluble substances: studies of crystalline solids below their critical relative humidities.

Water vapor sorption on unground and ground samples of sodium chloride and sodium salicylate at relative humidities below RHo, that at which deliquescence is initiated, has been measured. Sorption isotherms, expressed as the amount sorbed per unit area of solid surface, were different for unground and ground samples. Measurement of specific surface area for samples previously exposed to various relative humidities revealed no change with unground samples but a significant reduction with ground samples beyond about 20% relative humidity. Correcting isotherms for this change in area brings the results with ground and unground samples into closer agreement. These studies reveal that relatively low levels of water vapor sorption on crystalline water-soluble solids, below RHo, can give rise to some form of "surface dissolution" when the solid had been subjected to various forms of mechanical disturbance.