Is there a an equivalent to deliquescence with organic solvents, alcohols, etc?

[Mike_In_Plano]

This is a matter of some curiosity to me. Deliquescence was often mentioned in chemistry, and I've seen at work, but is this phenomina limited to a few special cases, such as water?

Are the intermolecular forces between any organic compounds sufficeint to essentially "drown" the solute in solvent? What about with the alchohols, chloroflourocarbons, and other solvents.

If this were so, it seems like there may be better candidates (less corrosive) than water and salts for absorbtion air conditioning.

Best Regards,

Mike

 

[jbsteele]

Deliquescence is a phenomenon that can occur with any substance, not just water and salts. The intermolecular forces between any organic compounds can be sufficient to cause deliquescence. Alcohols, chlorofluorocarbons, and other solvents can all exhibit the same behavior. For example, alcohols such as ethanol and propanol can deliquesce when exposed to sufficient humidity. Chlorofluorocarbons can also deliquesce under certain conditions. There are a variety of factors that affect whether or not a particular compound will deliquesce, including the relative humidity of the environment, the vapor pressure of the solvent, and the vapor pressure of the solute. Depending on the specific application, there may be better candidates than water and salts for absorption air conditioning.