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💏intro to chemistry review

key term - Supersaturated

Citation:

Definition

A supersaturated solution is a solution that contains more dissolved solute than the solvent can normally hold at a given temperature. This state is unstable and the excess solute will typically precipitate out of the solution if given the chance.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. A supersaturated solution is created by dissolving more solute in a solvent than the solvent can normally hold at a given temperature.
  2. Supersaturated solutions are in a metastable state and will spontaneously form solid crystals if a nucleation site is present.
  3. The precipitation of the excess solute from a supersaturated solution is known as crystallization.
  4. Supersaturation can be achieved by cooling a saturated solution or by evaporating the solvent from a saturated solution.
  5. Supersaturated solutions are important in many industrial and natural processes, such as the formation of rock candy and the growth of large crystals.

Review Questions

  • Explain how a supersaturated solution differs from a saturated solution in terms of solute concentration.
    • A saturated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in the solvent at a given temperature, whereas a supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than the solvent can normally hold at that temperature. The supersaturated state is unstable, and the excess solute will typically precipitate out of the solution if given the chance to form solid crystals.
  • Describe the process of crystallization that occurs in a supersaturated solution.
    • When a supersaturated solution is formed, the excess solute is in a metastable state. The precipitation of the excess solute from the solution, known as crystallization, requires a nucleation site or seed crystal to initiate the process. Once crystallization begins, the solute molecules will organize into a regular, repeating crystal structure, and the solution will return to a saturated state as the excess solute is removed.
  • Analyze the factors that can lead to the formation of a supersaturated solution and discuss the practical applications of this phenomenon.
    • Supersaturated solutions can be formed by cooling a saturated solution or by evaporating the solvent from a saturated solution, which increases the concentration of the solute beyond the normal solubility limit. This unstable state can have practical applications, such as the growth of large, high-quality crystals for use in electronics, the production of rock candy, and the formation of certain types of natural minerals and gemstones. Understanding the conditions that lead to supersaturation and the subsequent crystallization process is crucial in many industrial and scientific contexts.