American Chemical Society (ACS) Chemistry Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

A supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than what would be found in a saturated solution at a given temperature. In a saturated solution, the maximum amount of solute has dissolved, meaning any additional solute will not dissolve and will remain as a solid.

In contrast, a supersaturated solution is created by manipulating conditions, such as heating the solution to dissolve more solute and then carefully cooling it down. This results in a solution that holds more solute than it typically would under equilibrium conditions at a specific temperature. A supersaturated solution is inherently unstable; any disturbance can cause the excess solute to precipitate out rapidly, returning the solution to a saturated state.

The other types of solutions do not fit this description. An unsaturated solution contains less solute than a saturated solution and can still dissolve more. A diluted solution refers to one where the concentration of solute is lower than in another solution, and it also does not indicate that it exceeds the saturation point. Thus, supersaturation is uniquely characterized by the presence of more solute than a saturated solution holds at a given temperature.