saturated

Saturated is a general term used to describe a state in which something cannot be more fully filled or occupied under the given conditions. It implies that capacity is reached, or that no additional material can be absorbed, dissolved, or formed without changing the conditions.

In chemistry, a saturated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved at a specific temperature and pressure; surpassing this limit leaves excess solid or liquid. In organic chemistry, saturated compounds are hydrocarbons with only single covalent bonds between carbon atoms, typically arranged in open chains, as in alkanes (CnH2n+2).

In physics and materials science, saturation describes a limit in a response. Magnetic saturation occurs when all magnetic moments align with an external field and the material's magnetization cannot increase appreciably with stronger fields. In electronics, the saturation region of a transistor or amplifier is where the output signal ceases to increase proportionally with input.

In color theory and digital imaging, saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. A highly saturated color appears vivid, while a desaturated color appears dull or gray. Saturation is a dimension in color spaces such as HSL and HSV used in design and photography.

In nutrition, saturated fats are triglycerides composed mainly of saturated fatty acids, found in animal fats and some tropical oils. Diets high in saturated fats have been linked to elevated LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, though health guidance emphasizes overall dietary patterns and the role of specific fatty acids.