Salt lamp

[bluemoon1]

My partner bought a salt lamp made of rock salt from a shop. I noticed there was water underneath and around said lamp. So I mopped it up and stood the lamp on a newspaper. The newspaper is now wet through, there is no incoming rain the windws are shut but this patch of liquid keeps apearing

[Bert]

Salt is hygroscopic, but not deliquescent - which means it absorbs moisture from the air, but not so much that it dissolves in the water. But that seems to be what is happening to your lamp. Is your room exceptionally damp? Have you tried dipping your finger in the 'water' and tasting it? If it is very salty. that would confirm it.

[peter_jameson]

Hello bluemoon1,

Bert is absolutely correct. Common salt, that is sodium chloride is hygroscopic but not deliquescent. It might be that there is an impurity in your rock salt lamp that is resulting in the deliquescence you are observing. Calcium chloride would do this, and could well be present if your lamp is made from 'fake' rock salt. In any case I would not suggest that you taste the liquid as calcium chloride, if present, could burn your mouth chemically (with no disrespect to Bert's answer).

Regards

Peter Jameson