Saturated solutions, solubility curves, and electrolytes

A solution is unsaturated when it can still dissolve more solute, saturated when it holds the maximum amount at that temperature, and supersaturated when it holds more than that normal maximum, an unstable state in which a disturbance or seed crystal makes the extra solute crystallize out. A solubility curve shows how much solute dissolves at each temperature: most solids dissolve more in hotter water, while gases dissolve less, which is why warm soda goes flat faster. Separately, how fast a solid dissolves increases with higher temperature, stirring, and smaller particle size (more surface area). Solutes that break into ions in water, like table salt, are electrolytes and make the solution conduct electricity, while solutes that dissolve as whole molecules, like sugar, are nonelectrolytes and do not.

This explanation is AI-generated and can occasionally be wrong. 🚩 Report