Efflorescence on masonry is primarily caused by which process?

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Multiple Choice

Efflorescence on masonry is primarily caused by which process?

Explanation:
Efflorescence happens when soluble salts inside porous masonry dissolve in moisture and are carried to the surface. The crucial step that creates the visible white coating is the evaporation of that moisture at the surface; as the water evaporates, the dissolved salts crystallize and are left behind as a powdery deposit. Rain splash and water seepage contribute moisture and help transport the salts, but they’re not the step that directly forms the crystals. Salt deposition is the result you see after crystallization, while evaporation is the key mechanism that makes those crystals appear.

Efflorescence happens when soluble salts inside porous masonry dissolve in moisture and are carried to the surface. The crucial step that creates the visible white coating is the evaporation of that moisture at the surface; as the water evaporates, the dissolved salts crystallize and are left behind as a powdery deposit. Rain splash and water seepage contribute moisture and help transport the salts, but they’re not the step that directly forms the crystals. Salt deposition is the result you see after crystallization, while evaporation is the key mechanism that makes those crystals appear.

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