• Question: What material absorbs water the quickest?

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      Asked by I like Grapes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to Martin, Martin, Elizabeth on 17 Mar 2015.
      • Photo: Elizabeth Cooper

        Elizabeth Cooper answered on 17 Mar 2015:

        Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment. I think substances that include cellulose fibers (such as cotton and paper) probably absorb water the quickest.

      • Photo: Martin Ward

        Martin Ward answered on 17 Mar 2015:

        This is a property of a material that I have never actually measured. It is sometimes a problem for me though because I sometimes make a crystal that contains zero water – which is what I may want to happen, so YAY! However, if the crystal wants to form a hydrate (it starts to include water molecules) then it can take on an awful lot of water very quickly. Some materials like this can absorb more than double their weight in water fairly quickly

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