Question

What is the observation on adding a solute crystal to a supersaturated solution?

• A. It become a colloidal solution
• B. The solute dissolves in the solution
• C. The solution desaturates
• D. The solute precipitates out of the solution

Answer 1

Answer:

D. The solute precipitates out of the solution

• A supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than it can theoretically hold at that specific temperature, making it thermodynamically unstable.

• When a seed crystal of the solute is added, it provides a nucleation site, causing the excess dissolved solute to rapidly precipitate (crystallize) out of the solution until equilibrium is restored.