üleküllastusega

Üleküllastusega, commonly translated as supersaturation, refers to a state where a solution contains more dissolved solute than it would normally be able to hold at a given temperature and pressure. This condition is metastable, meaning the solution is unstable and the excess solute is prone to precipitating out.

Supersaturation can be achieved by carefully dissolving a large amount of solute in a solvent at an elevated temperature. Once dissolved, the solution is then slowly cooled without any disturbance. During this cooling process, the solubility of the solute decreases, but if the solution remains undisturbed, the solute may not immediately crystallize or precipitate out, leading to the supersaturated state.

The presence of impurities, vibrations, or the introduction of a seed crystal can trigger the rapid precipitation of the excess solute from a supersaturated solution. This phenomenon is utilized in various applications, such as the formation of crystals in geological processes, the creation of rock candy, and in some industrial crystallization techniques. The degree of supersaturation can vary, with higher levels indicating a greater instability of the solution.