The Amazing World of Solutes, Solvents, and Solutions - Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions
Review the key concepts, formulae, and examples before starting your quiz.
🔑Concepts
A solution is a uniform mixture formed when a solute dissolves in a solvent. The relationship is expressed as: .
The Solute is the substance that dissolves (e.g., or ), while the Solvent is the substance that dissolves the solute (e.g., ).
An Unsaturated Solution is a solution in which more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature. There is still 'space' between the solvent molecules.
A Saturated Solution is a solution in which no more solute can be dissolved at a specific temperature. Any additional solute added will settle at the bottom.
Solubility refers to the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a fixed amount of solvent at a specific temperature.
Temperature affects solubility: Heating a solvent usually increases the amount of solute it can hold, effectively turning a saturated solution back into an unsaturated one until more solute is added.
📐Formulae
💡Examples
Problem 1:
Rohan adds grams of salt to of and stirs it. The salt disappears completely. He then adds another grams of salt, and it starts settling at the bottom of the beaker. Identify the two types of solutions formed.
Solution:
The first solution was an Unsaturated Solution, and the final mixture is a Saturated Solution.
Explanation:
Initially, the water could dissolve more salt, making it unsaturated. Once the salt stopped dissolving and settled at the bottom, the solution reached its limit at that temperature, becoming saturated.
Problem 2:
If a saturated solution of sugar in is heated, what happens to its ability to dissolve more sugar?
Solution:
The solution becomes Unsaturated again.
Explanation:
Increasing the temperature increases the kinetic energy and space between molecules, allowing more sugar particles to fit. Thus, the previously saturated solution can now dissolve more solute.