Winter is coming. It seems the temperature is finally starting to drop and it’s starting to rain. Although in some cases this presence was too strong and led to terrible floods. The point is that cold and humidity They came not only to Spain. They are also starting to grow in countries like United Kingdom, where they are already much more common than here. High humidity in homes can contribute to the appearance of mold on the walls and deterioration of the environment. unhealthy. Therefore, the British are advised to place a bowl of salt next to the windows. This is supposedly great anti-moisture solution. But does it work?
Well, overall we can say yes. He sodium chlorideWhat we know as table salt is a compound hygroscopic. This means that it can absorb moisture from the environment. However, this is not always the best solution against humidity. Sometimes this may not be enough.
Anyway, since it may be of some benefit, let’s look at why this trick is recommended to the British.
Salt as an anti-humidity agent
To understand why salt can be a solution to a moisture problem, we need to remember a little about basic chemistry.
water molecule (H2O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atomconnected by a type of connection known as covalent. This polar molecule, with a positive end defined by hydrogen and another negative end instead of oxygen.
On the other side, salt molecule (NaCl) consists of one sodium atom and one chlorine atom. In your case the atoms are connected ionic bond. It is formed when two ions with a negative and a positive charge come together. In this case, the sodium ion has a positive charge and the chlorine ion has a negative charge.
Therefore, we have two molecules with a positive and a negative end, which They can act like magnetsattracting each other. A covalent bond is much stronger than an ionic bond. Therefore, when this attraction occurs, the salt molecule breaks, leaving free the sodium ion, which binds to the oxygen of the water, and the chlorine, which binds to the hydrogen part. Always positive with negative. This compound, when the salt molecule breaks, makes him dissolve. Until it completely dissolves, it can attract water. That’s why it’s a good solution against humidity.
This is not always a good measure
In fact, for salt to absorb moisture, the air around it must be highly saturated with it. Otherwise, connection and breaking of connections does not occur. It is calculated that the relative humidity should be at least 75%. Usually inside houses it is not so high. Even in the UK. The maximum of these figures can be achieved in bathrooms and kitchens.
Therefore, a more useful recommendation is to have good ventilation or even the use of devices heating or air conditioning. They emit dry air, which displaces moist air, making it difficult for condensation to form on the glass.
And this is the main disadvantage of humidity. When water vapor in the air collides with cold glass, it undergoes such a large temperature change that it turns into a liquid state. That’s why they are formed drops of condensation in the windows. This can also occur on walls, causing form.
This is something to pay attention to as mold spores and toxins can cause health problems for those living in these types of homes. In short, a container of salt next to a window can be a good measure if there is a lot of humidity there. If not, it may be sufficient to ventilate the room and use devices that dehumidify the environment. Of course, if you live in a humid place, avoid humidifiers with aromatherapy diffusers. Try candles instead.
Source: Hiper Textual
