ylikyllästetty

Ylikyllästetty is a Finnish term that translates to "supersaturated" in English. It is commonly used in chemistry and physics to describe a solution that contains more dissolved solute than it could normally hold at a given temperature and pressure. This state is achieved by carefully dissolving a substance, often by heating the solvent, and then allowing the solution to cool without any disturbance.

A supersaturated solution is inherently unstable. The excess solute is held in solution through a delicate balance. If this balance is disrupted, for example by introducing a seed crystal of the solute, adding a small particle of dust, or even by a sudden jolt, the excess solute will rapidly crystallize out of the solution. This crystallization process can be quite dramatic, leading to the formation of a large number of crystals in a short period.

Supersaturation is a phenomenon observed with many types of solutes, including salts, sugars, and gases. The process of achieving a supersaturated solution requires precise control over temperature and concentration. Once formed, these solutions are often used in experiments to demonstrate crystallization processes or in industrial applications where controlled crystallization is desired. The term can also be used metaphorically in everyday language to describe a situation that is overloaded or has too much of something.