What causes a saturated solution to form?

Answer 1

#"The intrinsic solubility of the solute."#

As per the definition, a saturated solution is one in which the solute, or material in solution, is in equilibrium with the UNDISSOLVED solute. This means that the solution functions according to the following equilibrium:

#MX_2(s) rightleftharpoons M^+ + 2X^-#
A temperature is usually specified, because a hot solution can (generally) dissolve more solute than a cold one. Where sparingly soluble salts are employed, often a #"solubility product"#, #K_"sp"# is reported, which is another equilibrium expression, such that,
#[M^(+)][X^-]^2=K_"sp"# (and here, since #[X^-]=[2M^+]#, if we wished to assess the solubility #S# of the salt, we would write, #K_"sp"=Sxx2S^2=4S^3#, and eventually that #S=""^(3)sqrt((K_"sp")/4)#.........

Because you wouldn't want to flush too much lead or mercury salt solution down the drain, solubility products are extensively tabulated for sparingly soluble and precious metal salts. Similarly, if you were trying to isolate gold, rhodium, or platinum salts, you would want to make sure that your mother solution didn't contain too much of the precious metal before you disposed of it.

Please note that the definition of a saturated solution as one where the solution #"all the solute that it can"#, is #"INADEQUATE"# and #"INCORRECT"#. Sometimes a #"supersaturated solution"# can be formed, such that, given the scenario above,
#[M^(+)][X^-]^2>K_"sp"#

Because these solutions are metastable, they can frequently be brought back to saturation and equilibrium by scratching the glass's edges or by adding a seed crystal.

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Answer 2

A saturated solution forms when the solvent has dissolved the maximum amount of solute at a given temperature and pressure.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.

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