The adjective “deliquescent” comes directly from the Latin “deliquescent-,” meaning “dissolving,” and the verb “deliquescere,” meaning “become liquid.” We might use this adjective to talk about solids turning to liquid, such as ice cubes melting in a punch bowl and Jell-O dribbling down the platter at a barbecue on a sweltering day. But in a chemistry lab, “deliquescent” has a more specific usage. It refers to solid substances that absorb moisture in the air and then dissolve. A practical example of this would be putting rice in a salt shaker — the rice, instead of the deliquescent salt, absorbs the moisture, which prevents the salt from sticking together.