Question

Describe: (a) concentrated, (b) dilute, (c) saturated, (d) unsaturated, (e) supersaturated, (f) solubility.

Short answer

A concentrated solution has a large amount of solute, a dilute solution has a small amount of solute, a saturated solution contains the maximum solute that can dissolve, an unsaturated solution could dissolve more solute, a supersaturated solution holds more solute than typically possible at a temperature, and solubility is the maximum amount of a solute that can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Concentrated Solution

A concentrated solution is one that has a large amount of solute relative to the solvent. In such a solution, there is a high proportion of solute molecules or ions compared to the amount of solvent.

Definition of Dilute Solution

A dilute solution contains a small amount of solute in comparison to the solvent. There are fewer solute particles within the mixture, making the presence of the solute less pronounced.

Definition of Saturated Solution

A saturated solution is one in which the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved in the solvent at a given temperature. Any additional solute added will not dissolve and will remain as undissolved solid in the solution.

Definition of Unsaturated Solution

An unsaturated solution is one that contains less solute than the maximum amount the solvent can dissolve at a certain temperature. It has the capacity to dissolve more solute if added to the solution.

Definition of Supersaturated Solution

A supersaturated solution is one that contains more solute than what the solvent would normally dissolve at a given temperature. This can occur through a change in conditions, such as cooling a saturated solution.

Definition of Solubility

Solubility is the property referring to the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a certain amount of solvent at a specified temperature and pressure. It's a measure of how well a solute can become dispersed in a solvent to form a homogeneous mixture.

Key concepts

Concentrated Solution

When you mix sugar in water for your morning coffee, if you add a lot of sugar, you're making what's called a concentrated solution. It's like having a small cup of coffee with lots of sugar; the sweetness is intense because of the high amount of sugar (solute) relative to the coffee (solvent). In chemistry, this principle is the same. A concentrated solution has more of the substance being dissolved (solute) compared to the liquid it's being mixed into (solvent). The more solute there is, the stronger or more 'concentrated' the solution becomes.

Picture squeezing several lemons into a pitcher–if you only add a small amount of water, you'll get a concentrated lemonade. You get the essence of lemon with every sip because there isn't much water to dilute it. In practical applications, concentrated solutions are often used when a strong reaction is desired, for instance, in cleaning products or in certain industrial processes.

Dilute Solution

On the flip side, think about adding just a pinch of salt into a large swimming pool. It's not going to make the water taste salty because the salt concentration is so low – this is what we call a dilute solution. In a dilute solution, the amount of solute is small in comparison to the amount of solvent. It's like adding a drop of food coloring to a bathtub; the color changes slightly, but it's hardly noticeable.

You might encounter a dilute solution when you're drinking flavored water; the taste is subtle because there's not much flavoring compared to the volume of water. It's important in chemical processes when control over reactions is needed, like in biological contexts or pharmaceutical preparations, where too strong a concentration could be harmful.

Saturated Solution

Have you ever added sugar to your tea and noticed that after a certain point, no more sugar dissolves? That's because you've made a saturated solution. It's where the solvent, such as water, has dissolved all the solute, like sugar, that it possibly can at a given temperature. If you keep adding sugar, it'll just collect at the bottom.

The concept of a saturated solution is super useful in everyday life. It tells us how much salt we can dissolve in water for cooking or informs industries how to create products like fizzy drinks. In nature, it explains why you get salt deposits in the ocean.

Unsaturated Solution

Imagine having a big, thirsty sponge that's only a little damp. It can still soak up a lot of water. That's like an unsaturated solution; it still has room to dissolve more solute. When a solution has less solute than it has the capacity to dissolve at a certain temperature, it's called unsaturated. If you were to add more solute to this solution, it would simply dissolve.

It's an essential concept when you're trying to dissolve something fully – like when making solutions in a lab or cooking. Unsaturated solutions don't waste any material since all of it dissolves. They're also used when a reaction depends on continuous addition of a solute.

Supersaturated Solution

Ever seen those cool science fair crystals? They're often made from a supersaturated solution. It's a sneaky mix that holds more dissolved solute than it's supposed to at a given temperature. You make it by dissolving solute at a high temperature and then gently cooling it down. The 'extra' solute doesn't immediately come out but can do so rapidly if it's disturbed or if a small 'seed' crystal is added, making for some impressive formations.

Supersaturated solutions are like supersized burgers – they fit more than seems possible! They're not stable, though, and that's why they're useful in producing rapid reactions or crystallization in various scientific and industrial processes.

Solubility

Every substance has a kind of 'limit' to how well it can mix with a solvent to form a solution, called solubility. This is not just any number; it's a crucial piece of information. It tells you the maximum amount of solute you can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure before it becomes saturated.

If you know the solubility, you can figure out the best way to dissolve a substance – like when you're adding sugar to coffee or salt to water. Solubility is an integral part of recipes in cooking to ensure flavors blend well. It also determines how pollutants spread in the environment and how medicines are formulated to be most effective in the body.