Saturated
Definition and meaning of Saturated in chemistry.
Saturated refers to a chemical state where a system holds the absolute maximum possible amount of a specific substance under given thermodynamic conditions, such as a solution that cannot dissolve additional solute.
In more detail
In the context of liquid solutions, adding more solid solute to a fully saturated solution will simply result in the excess material remaining undissolved at the bottom of the container. This establishes a dynamic equilibrium where the rate of dissolution exactly equals the rate of crystallization. In organic chemistry, a saturated hydrocarbon compound contains exclusively single covalent bonds between carbon atoms, meaning the carbon skeleton holds the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms. Temperature and pressure heavily influence the exact saturation point.
Key facts
| Field | General Chemistry |
|---|---|
| Concept | Maximum capacity |
| Equilibrium | Dissolution rate equals crystallization rate |
A fully saturated aqueous solution of sodium chloride at standard room temperature contains approximately 36 grams of dissolved NaCl per 100 milliliters of liquid water.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly happens when a typical saturated solid-liquid solution is heated?
For most solid solutes, the solubility increases with temperature, allowing the heated solution to dissolve even more solute and temporarily become unsaturated.