Question

A solution which has more of solute, at a given temperature than that of saturated solution is called a:

• A. Super saturated solution
• B. Unsaturated solution
• C. Colloidal solution
• D. Suspension

Hint:

A supersaturated solution contains more solute than can normally dissolve at a given temperature and is typically unstable.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Think of hot sugar syrup cooled slowly to make rock candy. As it cools, it holds far more sugar than it normally could at room temperature, until the extra sugar crystallizes out.

1. Super saturated solution: the cooling syrup is a real example of this: dissolved solute beyond the normal saturation limit, sitting there until it comes out as crystals. This matches the question.
2. Unsaturated solution: this would be like adding only a little sugar to water, well short of the limit, which is the reverse case.
3. Colloidal solution: this describes particle size and dispersion, not how much solute is dissolved relative to saturation.
4. Suspension: this would be sugar particles floating and settling without dissolving at all, not extra dissolved sugar.

Since the rock-candy syrup example matches a solution holding more solute than saturation allows, the correct answer is super saturated solution.

Answer 2

Rank solutions by how much solute they hold relative to the saturation point: unsaturated (below it), saturated (right at it), super saturated (above it). Check each option against this ladder.

1. Super saturated solution: this sits above the saturation point on the ladder, holding more solute than saturation allows, which is exactly what the question describes.
2. Unsaturated solution: this sits below the saturation point on the ladder, the opposite end from what is described.
3. Colloidal solution: this is not a rung on the solute-amount ladder at all; it is a separate classification based on particle size.
4. Suspension: this is also not on the solute-amount ladder, since its particles are not dissolved in the first place.

The rung above saturation on that ladder is the super saturated solution, so that is the correct answer.