Key Words Description Unsaturated, saturated, and supersaturated solutions of sodium acetate are prepared. When seed crystals of sodium acetate are added to each, they dissolve in the unsaturated solution, they remain at equilibrium in the saturated solution, and they bring about the complete solidification of the liquid in the supersaturated solution. The terms saturated, unsaturated, and supersaturated are descriptions of the relative concentrations of dissolved crystals at a given temperature. A saturated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved at a given temperature.
Saturation is the limit of solubility.
An unsaturated solution contains less than the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved at a given temperature. A supersaturated solution contains more than the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved at equilibrium at a given temperature. A supersaturated solution is unstable. It may spontaneously form solute together with saturated solution. Go to Top Hazards Sodium acetate is basic enough to corrode eye tissue.