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Difficulty: EasySaturation States: Unsaturated, Saturated, and Supersaturated Solutions

Match each type of solution state with its corresponding characteristic physical state and behavior at a given temperature.

  • Unsaturated solutionContains less dissolved solute than its maximum limit and can dissolve additional solute at the given temperature.
  • Saturated solutionContains the maximum amount of dissolved solute in dynamic equilibrium with undissolved solute at that temperature.
  • Supersaturated solutionContains more dissolved solute than the normal equilibrium solubility and rapidly crystallizes upon adding a seed crystal.

Answer

An unsaturated solution matches with holding less solute than the maximum limit and being able to dissolve more solute. A saturated solution matches with holding the maximum solute in dynamic equilibrium with undissolved solute. A supersaturated solution matches with holding excess dissolved solute beyond normal solubility and rapidly crystallizing upon seeding.
An unsaturated solution can dissolve more solute; a saturated solution maintains dynamic equilibrium with maximum dissolved solute; a supersaturated solution holds solute beyond normal solubility limits and crystallizes when seeded.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the characteristic of an unsaturated solution.
It has not reached maximum capacity, so adding solute leads to further dissolution.
Solvent molecules are available to interact with and dissolve additional solute particles at that temperature.
2
Identify the characteristic of a saturated solution.
It exists in dynamic equilibrium with undissolved solid.
At saturation, the solvent holds the maximum possible concentration of solute at that specific temperature.
3
Identify the characteristic of a supersaturated solution.
It contains dissolved solute in excess of the saturation concentration and is metastable/unstable.
Disturbing the solution with a seed crystal initiates rapid crystallization to relieve the unstable excess concentration.

Key Concept

Saturation States of Solutions
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Topics

Saturation States: Unsaturated, Saturated, and Supersaturated Solutions