supersaturation
Excess solute dissolved
Supersaturation is the state of a solution containing more dissolved substance than it could normally hold at a given temperature.
This unstable condition occurs when a saturated solution is carefully cooled or evaporated without the excess solute precipitating out.
A slight disturbance—a seed crystal, a scratch on the container—can trigger rapid crystallization.
The term extends to any system pushed beyond its normal capacity: The market reached supersaturation with streaming services.
Answer or liquid mixture
- solubilityDissolving potential in liquid
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
- metastableStable but not permanently
crystallization · precipitation · thermodynamics · kinetics · phase · dissolution · equilibrium · concentration
Initial cluster formation
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- growthIncrease in size
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
formation · lattice · spontaneous · induced · seeding · facets · structure · polymorph
Moisture in atmosphere
- moistureSmall amounts of liquid
- vaporGaseous form of liquid
- cloudsAirborne water masses
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
fog · mist · precipitation · dew · rain · water vapor · aerosol · droplets
Surplus beyond need
- dissolvedDispersed into solvent
- soluteSubstance absorbed by solvent
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- gradientRate of change across space
degree · level · ratio · maximum · beyond · capacity · limit · critical
solution
Answer or liquid mixture
- solubilityDissolving potential in liquid
- solventDissolving liquid or financially stable
- nucleationInitial cluster formation
metastable · crystallization · precipitation · thermodynamics · kinetics · phase · dissolution · equilibrium · concentration · unstable
nucleation
Initial cluster formation
precipitation · formation · lattice · spontaneous · induced · seeding · facets · structure · polymorph · onset
humidity
Moisture in atmosphere
condensation · fog · mist · precipitation · dew · rain · water vapor · aerosol · droplets · weather
excess
Surplus beyond need
gradient · degree · level · ratio · maximum · beyond · capacity · limit · critical · driving force
overabundance
Excessive quantity beyond need
- surplusAmount exceeding requirement
- overflowExceed capacity and spill
- satiationState of complete fulfillment
overload · threshold · tipping point · critical point · accumulation
- condensationcondensation, dew, fog, steam, frost
- science experimentsvolcano model, elephant toothpaste, color change, slime making, baking soda volcano
- processesprocess, manufacturing, dissolving, fermentation, biological process
- Solution Chemistryelectrolytes, ions, pH, acids, bases
- crystallographycrystal structure, crystal systems, crystal growth, dislocations, crystallization
- crystal propertieshardness, luster, cleavage, fracture, streak
supersaturationunsaturated
Not fully saturated
dilution · dilute · desaturation · saturation · rarefaction
saturated, saturate, saturation, saturating, unsaturated, saturates, oversaturated, desaturated, desaturate