What is example of saturated and unsaturated?

A saturated solution is a solution that contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved under the condition at which the solution exists.
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Table of Contents
How to Prepare a Saturated Solution?
Types of Saturation
Factors affecting the Point of Saturation
Everyday Examples of Saturated Solution

In chemistry, after studying solutions and properties of the solution, one can understand that a solution can reach a status of saturation. This state is when the solution has reached a point in which no more solute can be added. Addition of solute after this point would result in a solid precipitate or gas being released. Such a mixture is called a saturated solution.

How to Prepare a Saturated Solution?

A saturated solution is prepared by continuously adding solute to the solution until a stage is reached where the solute appears as a solid precipitate or as crystals to form a highly saturated solution.

Consider the process of adding table sugar to a container of water.
Initially, the added sugar dissolves as the solution is stirred.
Finally, as more sugar has added a point is reached where no amount of stirring will cause the added sugar to dissolve.
The last added sugar remains as a solid on the bottom of the container, the solution is saturated.

Types of Saturation

The main three types of saturation are explained below.

Types of Saturation	Definitions	Example
Saturated Solution	A saturated solution is a solution that is in equilibrium with respect to a given dissolved substance.	Carbonated water
Unsaturated Solution	A solution not in equilibrium with respect to a given dissolved substance and in which more substance can be dissolved.	NaCl in water
Supersaturated Solution	A solution contains more dissolved substance than a saturated solution does.	Sugar is dissolved in saturated solution by heating

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Factors affecting the Point of Saturation

With an increase in temperature the solubility of ionic solutions increases, except mixtures which are made up of compounds containing anions.
Solutes which are finely divided possess greater solubility.
The rate of crystallization is dependent upon the amount of solute at the crystal surface.
The solution is said to be saturated if the rate of crystallization and the rate of solubility are the same.
The net dissolving rate can be increased by stirring the solution which prevents the build-up of solute.
The response of the equilibrium system is predicted using Le Chatelier’s principle which depends upon the change in pressure, concentration or temperature.

Everyday Examples of Saturated Solution

Beverages are one of the most widely used and loved saturated solutions. In these drinks, water is a solvent and carbon is bombarded as a solute until the point of saturation is reached.
In the kitchen, many cooking recipes involves dissolving of salt, sugar and other household ingredients into the water. This procedure is temperature-dependent. As the temperature of water increases the solubility of the solute increases. After the point of saturation is reached the solute forms a visible layer on top of the solvent.
Soil present on the earth surface can also be called as a saturated mixture which consists of nitrogen. Once the saturation point is reached; the excess nitrogen is let out into the air in the form of gas.

A soda is a saturated solution of carbon dioxide in water. This is why, when the pressure is released, carbon dioxide gas forms bubbles. Adding chocolate powder to milk so that it stops dissolving forms a saturated solution.

Adding a spoonful of sugar to a cup of hot coffee produces an unsaturated sugar solution. Vinegar is an unsaturated solution of acetic acid in water. Mist is an unsaturated (but close to saturated) solution of water vapor in air.

The difference between saturated and unsaturated fat lies in the number of double bonds in the fatty acid chain. Saturated fatty acids lack double bonds between the individual carbon atoms, while in unsaturated fatty acids there is at least one double bond in the fatty acid chain.

The solution obtained by dissolving maximum amount of solute at a given temperature is known as saturated solution. A solution which contains more amount of solute than that is required to saturate it is known as supersaturated solution.

An aqueous solution can be rendered supersaturated by first dissolving the solute in water at an elevated temperature using enough to give a concentration just under its solubility at that temperature. After the last of the solute crystals have dissolved the solution is cooled.

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A saturated solution is a chemical solution containing the maximum concentration of a solute dissolved in the solvent. The additional solute will not dissolve in a saturated solution.

The amount of solute that can be dissolved in a solvent to form a saturated solution depends on a variety of factors. The most important factors are:

Temperature: Solubility increases with temperature. For example, you can dissolve much more salt in hot water than in cold water.
Pressure: Increasing pressure can force more solute into solution. This is commonly used to dissolve gases into liquids.
Chemical Composition: The nature of the solute and solvent and the presence of other chemicals in a solution affects solubility. For example, you can dissolve much more sugar in water than salt in water. Ethanol and water are completely soluble in each other.

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You encounter saturated solutions in daily life, not just in a chemistry lab. Also, the solvent does not need to be water. Here are some common examples:

A soda is a saturated solution of carbon dioxide in water. This is why, when the pressure is released, carbon dioxide gas forms bubbles.
Adding chocolate powder to milk so that it stops dissolving forms a saturated solution.
Salt can be added to melted butter or oil to the point where the salt grains stop dissolving, forming a saturated solution.
If you add enough sugar to your coffee or tea, you can form a saturated solution. You'll know you've reached the saturation point when the sugar stops dissolving. Hot tea or coffee allows much more sugar to be dissolved than you can add to a cold beverage.
Sugar can be added to vinegar to form a saturated solution.

If one substance will not dissolve into another, you cannot form a saturated solution. For example, when you mix salt and pepper, neither dissolves in the other. All you get is a mixture. Mixing oil and water together will not form a saturated solution because one liquid does not dissolve in the other.

There's more than one way to make a saturated solution. You can prepare it from scratch, saturate an unsaturated solution, or force a supersaturated solution to lose some solute.

Add solute to a liquid until no more dissolves.
Evaporate solvent from a solution until it becomes saturated. Once the solution starts to crystallize or precipitate, the solution is saturated.
Add a seed crystal to a supersaturated solution so extra solute will grow onto the crystal, leaving a saturated solution.

The definition of a supersaturated solution is one which contains more dissolved solute than could ordinarily dissolve into the solvent. A minor disturbance of the solution or introduction of a "seed" or tiny crystal of solute will force crystallization of excess solute. One way supersaturation can occur is by carefully cooling a saturated solution. If there is no nucleation point for crystal formation, the excess solute may remain in solution.