---
title: "Define hygroscopicity in brief"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:property-hygroscopicity"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/property-hygroscopicity
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define hygroscopicity in brief

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 1: Introduction to Civil Engineering Material

- Asked in: 2080 Bhadra, 1 marks; 2079 Bhadra, 1 marks; 2076 Asoj, 0.5 marks; 2072 Chaitra, 0.5 marks (asked 4 times)
- Video: [Hygroscopic Materials](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIWg5pJ9MyE) — Innovative Chemistry 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/property-hygroscopicity
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-1

## Question

Define hygroscopicity as a property of materials.

## Short answer

Hygroscopicity is a material's ability to absorb moisture from the air. Materials like timber, lime and cement are hygroscopic, causing swelling, shrinkage or strength loss with humidity changes.

## Answer

**Hygroscopicity** is the property of a material to absorb moisture from the surrounding air and hold it. Timber, lime and cement are hygroscopic, so they swell, shrink or lose strength with changes in humidity.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Hygroscopicity is the property to
   A. resist the passage of water under pressure
   B. resist heat flow
   C. absorb moisture from the surrounding air and hold it
   D. resist scratching
   Answer: C. It is moisture absorption from air; passage of water is permeability. (Key point: Definition)

2. Which materials are hygroscopic?
   A. Glass and diamond
   B. Granite and steel only
   C. Gold and lead
   D. Timber, lime and cement
   Answer: D. The answer lists timber, lime and cement. (Key point: Examples)

3. A hygroscopic material changing with humidity may
   A. swell, shrink or lose strength
   B. become fireproof
   C. gain permanent hardness
   D. become perfectly impermeable
   Answer: A. Humidity changes cause swelling, shrinkage or strength loss. (Key point: Effect)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Insulating materials in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Ainsulating-materials) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10, asked 3×
- [Define creep in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperty-creep) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8×
- [Define porosity in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperty-porosity) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Define fatigue in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperty-fatigue) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Define resilience in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperty-resilience) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Define hardness in brief](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aproperty-hardness) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 3×

## Related in other subjects

- [Ferrimagnetic versus antiferromagnetic materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Felectrical_engineering_material%3Aferri-vs-antiferromagnetic) — Electrical Engineering Material, chapter 4
- [High conducting materials: requirements and classification](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Felectric_machine_design%3Ahigh-conducting-materials) — Electric Machine Design, chapter 1, asked 3×
- [Insulating materials and their classification](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Felectric_machine_design%3Ainsulating-material-classification) — Electric Machine Design, chapter 1
- [Insulating materials: classes, requirements and properties](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Felectric_machine_design%3Ainsulating-material-properties) — Electric Machine Design, chapter 1