How Do You Spell SUPERSATURATED SOLUTION?

1. A supersaturated solution is a state in which a solvent holds more solute than it would normally dissolve under normal conditions. It is a highly concentrated solution that is formed when a solute is dissolved at a higher temperature and then allowed to cool down slowly without forming any crystals. This phenomenon is achieved by adding an excess amount of solute to a solvent, causing the solution to become unstable and highly saturated.

   At this point, the solvent is holding a higher concentration of solute than it should theoretically be able to dissolve at that temperature. However, the excess solute remains dissolved due to the slow cooling process, resulting in an unstable, metastable state.

   A supersaturated solution is different from a saturated solution, which is a stable state where the solvent has dissolved the maximum amount of solute at a given temperature. In a supersaturated solution, the additional solute is in a state of suspension, unable to form crystals due to the lack of suitable nuclei or a cooling effect.

   Disturbing a supersaturated solution by adding a seed crystal or agitating it can trigger a rapid crystallization process, causing the excess solute to precipitate out of the solution. This sudden formation of crystals is known as the supersaturation collapse.

   Supersaturated solutions have various applications in industries like food and pharmaceuticals, where stability and controlled release of substances are required.

2. A solution containing more of the solid than the menstruum would ordinarily dissolve; it is made by heating the solvent when the substance is added, and on cooling the latter is retained without precipitation.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for SUPERSATURATED SOLUTION

The word "supersaturated" is composed of two parts: "super-" and "saturated".

The prefix "super-" derives from Latin and means "above" or "over". In this case, it indicates that something is in excess or beyond a normal state.

The term "saturated" originates from the Latin word "saturatus" which means "filled" or "sated". It refers to a solution that has reached a maximum concentration of solute that can be dissolved at a given temperature and pressure.

Therefore, a "supersaturated solution" refers to a solution in which the concentration of solute exceeds the normal saturation point under specific conditions.