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A saturated solution can dissolve more when you increase its temperature and less when you decrease. When hot saturated solution is cooled to zero degrees Celsius, or beyond it the solubility of the solvent will decrease and precipitate until it forms a solid.

A saturated solution is one that has reached its saturation level for a specific solute (what is dissolved in it). The saturation level depends on the temperature and different solutes have different saturation levels at different temperatures.

When a saturated solution is cooled, one of two things can happen.

  • If the temperature drop reduces the saturation level, the liquid will be supersaturated and some of the dissolved substance will precipitate out of the solution and you will eventually see particles or crystals floating on top or settling on bottom of the liquid.
  • If the temperature drop is slow enough and the liquid is not disturbed, it may become supersaturated but retain the solute. The amount of solute will exceed the saturation level. Any disturbance can start the precipitation such as shaking or dropping something into the solution.
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7y ago

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