Üleküllastunud

Üleküllastunud is an Estonian word that translates to "oversaturated" or "super-saturated" in English. It is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and physics, to describe a state where a solution contains more solute than it can normally hold at a given temperature and pressure.

In chemistry, a saturated solution is one in which the maximum amount of solute has dissolved. If more solute is added to a saturated solution, it will not dissolve and will remain as a solid. An over-saturated or super-saturated solution, however, is one that has been prepared by dissolving more solute than is normally possible. This is typically achieved by heating the solvent to dissolve a larger quantity of solute, and then carefully cooling the solution without disturbing it. The excess solute remains dissolved in a metastable state.

This super-saturated state is unstable. Any disturbance, such as shaking the container, introducing a seed crystal of the solute, or even a sudden change in temperature, can cause the excess solute to rapidly crystallize out of the solution, returning it to a saturated state. This phenomenon is often demonstrated in science experiments to illustrate the concept of solubility and metastable equilibrium.

The term "üleküllastunud" can also be used metaphorically in Estonian to describe situations or information that are excessively abundant or overwhelming, leading to a similar feeling of being unable to process or absorb any more. For example, one might say a person is "üleküllastunud" with information if they have received too much data to comprehend effectively.