Skip to main content

Saturated, Unsaturated, and Supersaturated Solutions

This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.

State

A solution is saturated at its solubility limit, unsaturated below it, and supersaturated above it in an unstable, nonequilibrium state.

Show

A hand warmer's sodium acetate solution stays supersaturated until disturbed, then rapidly precipitates the excess and releases heat.

Watch for

A supersaturated solution is not at equilibrium and can be disturbed into sudden precipitation of its excess solute.