Examples of Supersaturated Solutions

The supersaturated solutions They are those that have more solute than the solvent can dissolve at a certain temperature. For example: Carbonated beverages (soda) are supersaturated solutions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in water.

In supersaturated solutions the excess solute It can settle at the bottom of the container. If the temperature of a supersaturated solution is increased it will be possible to dissolve the excess solute. If the excess solute is too much, even if the temperature is increased greatly, it will not be possible to completely dissolve the excess solute.

• See also: Solutions

Examples of supersaturated solutions

1. Carbonated drinks are saturated solutions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in water.
2. If excess sugar is added to a water solution, you can see the sugar deposited at the bottom and it is a supersaturated solution.
3. If excess cement is added to the mixture with water, the cement begins to get harder at the bottom of the container, and it is a supersaturated solution.
4. Some syrups are solutions that have excess sugars.
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5. Rock sugar or rock sugar is a supersaturated solution of sugar in water, in which the sugar crystallizes on a surface.
6. When divers ascend very quickly to the surface, they experience supersaturation of respiratory gases in the tissues. This process is known as decompression syndrome.
7. If excess salt is added to a salt water solution, a supersaturated solution is formed.

Characteristics of supersaturated solutions

Some characteristics of supersaturated solutions are:

• They have more solute than the solvent can dissolve.
• The solute can be deposited at the bottom of the container containing the solution.
• They can be obtained by decreasing the volume of liquid by evaporation or cooling a saturated solution.
• They can stop being supersaturated (and become saturated) if the temperature, pressure or degree of agitation is modified.

Effect of temperature and pressure on supersaturated solutions

Supersaturated solutions have more solute than the solvent can dissolve, but if you increase the temperature or the pressure is decreased, it is possible to dissolve more of this excess of solute.

Increasing the temperature of a supersaturated solution increases the Kinetic energy (the energy that a body possesses due to its relative motion) of the particles of its components (the solute and the solvent). This causes the particles to move faster and interact more with each other and, consequently, the solute particles mix more with the solvent particles.

By decreasing the pressure of a supersaturated solution, the particles of its components can move with greater speed and more freedom, so that it is more likely that the excess solute will mix with the solvent.

Types of solutions

Depending on the proportion of solute and solvent, solutions can be:

• Unsaturated solutions. They are solutions that have less solute than the solvent can dissolve.
• Saturated solutions. They are solutions in which there is an equilibrium between the solute and the solvent at a certain temperature. In these solutions the solvent does not admit any more dissolved solute.
• Supersaturated solutions. They are solutions that have more solute than the solvent can dissolve.

Solute and solvent

A solution or dissolution is called a homogeneous mixture of two or more components between which there is no chemical reaction. For example: salt water.

The components of a solution are usually called solute and solvent:

• The solute It is the component that dissolves in the solvent of a solution. The solute is usually in a smaller amount in the solution. For example: the salt.
• The solvent or solvent It is the component of a solution that dissolves the solute. The solvent is present in greater quantity in the solution. For example: Water.

The solubility It is the ability of one substance to dissolve in another. This property can be defined as the mass of solute that is capable of dissolving in a given mass of solvent.

Follow with:

• Solubility
• Suspensions
• Solute and solvent

References

• Becker, R. S., & Wentworth, W. AND. (1977). General chemistry. I reversed.
• Tolentino, M. L. (2021). Solutions. Scientific Life Scientific Bulletin of the Preparatory School No. 4, 9(17), 44-45.
• Criado, C. L., & Reséndez, R. M. (2008). Formation of nanometric particles in supersaturated solutions. CIENCIA-UANL, 11(3), 6.