Supersaturated Solution

A supersaturated solution occurs when a solution contains more dissolved substance than it can normally hold at a given temperature. This state is achieved by dissolving the substance at a higher temperature and then carefully cooling it down without disturbing it. The result is a stable, yet delicate, balance where the excess solute remains dissolved. If disturbed—by shaking or adding a small crystal—the excess solute quickly crystallizes out. Supersaturated solutions are used in processes like rock candy creation and in certain industrial applications because they demonstrate how substances can be temporarily held in a state beyond their normal limits.