A supersaturated solution will precipitate when disturbed.

A supersaturated solution will precipitate when disturbed.

• A. Will precipitate when disturbed.
• B. Will never precipitate.
• C. Will always remain stable.
• D. Will immediately precipitate without disturbance.

Answer: (A)

A supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than is normally possible at that temperature; it is a metastable state. Because of this instability, any disturbance creates a site for nuclei to form, which lowers the energy barrier for crystallization. Once a nucleus forms, the dissolved solute precipitates rapidly as crystals grow. That’s why this statement is the best: disturbing a supersaturated solution triggers precipitation. The other ideas aren’t accurate because a metastable solution doesn’t precipitate instantly without any trigger, and it isn’t guaranteed to never precipitate or to remain stable under all conditions.

A supersaturated solution contains more dissolved solute than is normally possible at that temperature; it is a metastable state. Because of this instability, any disturbance creates a site for nuclei to form, which lowers the energy barrier for crystallization. Once a nucleus forms, the dissolved solute precipitates rapidly as crystals grow. That’s why this statement is the best: disturbing a supersaturated solution triggers precipitation. The other ideas aren’t accurate because a metastable solution doesn’t precipitate instantly without any trigger, and it isn’t guaranteed to never precipitate or to remain stable under all conditions.