Saturations

Saturation is a term used across many disciplines to describe a state in which a system has reached its maximum capacity for a given property. The plural saturations is used when referring to different contexts or fields at once.

In color theory, saturation denotes the vividness or purity of a color. It is one axis in models such as HSV and HSL, alongside hue and lightness. Increasing saturation makes colors more intense, while reducing it desaturates toward gray.

In chemistry, a solution is saturated when no more solute can dissolve at a given temperature, reaching dynamic equilibrium. In organic chemistry, saturated compounds contain only single bonds (for example, alkanes), whereas unsaturated compounds contain double or triple bonds.

In physics and engineering, magnetic saturation occurs when further increases in an applied field fail to produce additional magnetization. In electronic systems, amplifier saturation (clipping) happens when outputs reach the supply limits, causing waveform distortion.

In Earth and atmospheric sciences, humidity saturation refers to air holding as much water vapor as possible, at which relative humidity reaches 100% and the dew point equals the ambient temperature. Saturation can also describe the fraction of a porous medium’s volume filled with liquid, influencing hydraulic properties and drainage.