Intermättade

Intermättade is a Swedish term used to describe systems or states that are not fully saturated. As an adjective, it signals a partial or intermediate level of saturation, lying between the extremes of full saturation (mättad) and non-saturation (omättad). The exact meaning depends on the field and the conditions, such as temperature, pressure, or concentration.

In chemistry and solution science, intermättade conditions refer to solute concentrations that are between the solubility limit at a given temperature and the unsaturated regime. An intermättad solution is not yet at the point where additional solute would not dissolve, but it approaches that limit as conditions change. The concept can also apply to adsorption processes, where a surface is not completely covered by adsorbate molecules, leaving remaining capacity for additional adsorption.

In materials science and related disciplines, intermättade states describe systems where components have partially saturated interactions—for example, partially saturated binding sites on a surface or partial saturation of reactive groups in a polymer or catalyst under specific conditions. The exact interpretation is context-dependent and relies on experimental definitions or theoretical criteria established for the studied system.

Because intermättade is a relative term, its precise meaning should be stated in relation to a defined reference state, such as a particular temperature, pressure, concentration, or surface coverage. It is less common as a standalone label outside technical discussions, and it is typically clarified within the relevant scientific context.

See also mättad, omättad, saturation, solubility, adsorption.