Difference Between Saturated Solution and Unsaturated Solution (With Table)

The concentration or percentage of solute dissolved in the solution is considered to be at its highest level in a Saturated Solution at a certain temperature. The concentration of solute dissolved in the unsaturated solution is less than the maximum at a certain temperature.

Saturated Solution vs Unsaturated Solution

The main difference between Saturated Solution and Unsaturated Solution is that a saturated solution is one in which no additional solute can be dissolved at a given temperature. Whereas, Unsaturated solution is one in which there is room for more solute to be added during the dissolution process. Seawater is an example of a naturally occurring saturated solution. Vinegar is a good example of an unsaturated solution.

In the case of a Saturated Solution, the concentration or percentage of solute dissolved in the solution is at its highest level at a certain temperature. In a saturated solution, the solvent, liquid, or fluid cannot dissolve any additional solute at a given temperature. To add more solute to a saturated solution, the temperature of the solution must be raised. Precipitate usually remains at the bottom of a saturated solution. As the temperature rises, the level of saturation falls.

The concentration or percentage of solute dissolved in the unsaturated solution is less than the maximum at a certain temperature. Unsaturated Solution occurs when a fluid, liquid, or solvent can dissolve more solute at a given temperature. To add more solute to an Unsaturated Solution, the temperature of the solution does not need to be raised. The majority of the time, there is no precipitate at the bottom of an Unsaturated Solution.

Comparison Table Between Saturated Solution and Unsaturated Solution

Parameters of Comparison

Saturated Solution

Unsaturated Solution

To add solute

The temperature needs to be raised

Temperature need not be raised

With increasing temperature

Saturation decreases

Unsaturation increases

Example

Seawater

Vinegar

Precipitation

Remains

Does not remain

Concentration

Maximum

Less than maximum

What is Saturated Solution?

In the event of a saturated solution, the temperature of the solution must be raised to add more solute. The majority of the time, precipitate remains at the bottom of a saturated solution. When the temperature rises, the level of saturation falls.

In the event of a saturated solution, the solvent, liquid, or fluid cannot dissolve any more solute at a given temperature. Seawater is an example of a saturated solution found in nature.

A saturated solution is a form of a solution in which no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature. In the case of a Saturated Solution, the concentration or amount of solute dissolved in the solution is considered to be at its maximum level at a certain temperature.

What is Unsaturated Solution?

Unsaturated Solution occurs when a fluid, liquid, or solvent can dissolve a greater amount of solute at a given temperature. To add more solute to an unsaturated solution, the temperature of the solution does not need to be raised.

The majority of the time, no precipitate remains at the bottom of an Unsaturated Solution. An unsaturated solution is a form of a solution in which there is room for the extra solute to be added during the dissolution process.

The concentration or amount of solute dissolved in the unsaturated solution is less than the maximum at a given temperature. When the temperature rises, the level of unsaturation rises with it. Vinegar is an example of an unsaturated solution.

Main Differences Between Saturated Solution and Unsaturated Solution

  1. A saturated solution is a type of solution in which there is no scope left for the dissolution of any more quantity of solute at a given temperature. On the other hand, Unsaturated Solution is a type of solution in which there is a scope left for the addition of more quantity of solute for the dissolution process.
  2. At a specific temperature, in the case of a Saturated Solution, the concentration or the percentage of solute dissolved in the solution is considered to be at its maximum level. On the other hand, at a specific temperature, the concentration or the percentage of solute dissolved in the unsaturated solution is less than the maximum.
  3. In the case of Saturated solution, at a specific temperature, the solvent, liquid, or fluid does not possess the potential to dissolve more quantity of solute. On the other hand, in the case of Unsaturated Solution, at a particular temperature, the fluid, liquid, or solvent possesses the potential to dissolve more amount of solute.
  4. In the case of Saturated solution, to add more amount of solute, the temperature of the solution needs to be increased. On the other hand, in the case of Unsaturated Solution, to add more amount of solute, the temperature of the solution need not be raised.
  5. The majority of times, at the end of the bottom of a Saturated solution, precipitate remains. On the other hand, the Majority of times at the bottom of an Unsaturated Solution, no such thing as precipitate remains.
  6. The level of saturation decreases when the temperature is increased. On the other hand, the level of Unsaturation increases when the temperature increases.
  7. An example of a Saturated solution occurring naturally in nature is Seawater. On the other hand, the example of an Unsaturated Solution is Vinegar.

Conclusion

At a particular temperature, a saturated solution is one in which no additional solute can be dissolved. The solvent, liquid, or fluid in a saturated solution cannot dissolve any more solute at a given temperature. If you want to add more solute to a saturated solution, you’ll need to raise the temperature of the solution. Precipitate usually persists at the bottom of a saturated solution. As the temperature rises, so does the level of saturation. Seawater is a natural example of a saturated solution.

Unsaturated solutions have room for more solute to be added during the dissolving process. The fluid, liquid, or solvent in an unsaturated solution can dissolve more solute at a given temperature. If you want to add more solute to an unsaturated solution, you don’t have to raise the temperature. Most of the time, there is no precipitate at the bottom of an Unsaturated Solution. When the temperature rises, the Unsaturation level rises with it. Vinegar is a good example of a saturated solution.

References

  1. https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aic.690290420
  2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.cgd.1c00822