If 55 grams of #KCl# are dissolved in 100 grams of water at 80°C is the solution saturated unsaturated, or supersaturated?

1 Answer
Dec 13, 2016

We don't know.

Explanation:

#"Saturation"# defines an equilibrium condition. Namely that a #"saturated solution"# is a solution that contains an amount of solute equal to that amount of solute that would be in equilibrium with undissolved solute. A temperature is normally specified because a hot solution can (generally) hold more solute than a cold one.

#"Supersaturation"# describes a solution that contains an amount of solute GREATER than would be be in equilibrium with undissolved solute. This is a metastable solution, in which the excess solute is liable to crash out to form a saturated solution.

Confused yet?

So, without any data, we don't know whether your solution is #"saturated"#, or #"unsaturated"#.