Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions

Is there a limit to the amount of solute that will dissolve in a solvent?

Why?
We use solutions every day. People who wear contact lenses use “lens solution” to rinse their contacts and
keep them wet. Athletes who consume sports drinks after exercising benefit from the electrolytes in those
solutions. This activity will explore whether or not there is a limit to how much of one substance can dis-
solve in another.

Model 1 – Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions

Unsaturated Solutions
Beaker A Beaker B
• All beakers contain 10.0 g of
water.
• All beakers are kept at 20 °C.
• All solutions are stirred for 2
hours.
• Solute is the same substance in
all beakers.

1.0 g of solute added 2.0 g of solute added

Number of dissolved particles 5 10
Number of solid particles o 0

Saturated Solutions
Beaker C Beaker D Beaker E

3.6 g of solute added 7.0 g of solute added 9.0 g of solute added

18 18 18
0 17 27

Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions 1

 1. Which illustration below represents
a. solute particles in a solid state in water?
b. solute particles in an aqueous state?

b a
__________ __________
2. What variables are controlled in all five beakers of Model 1?

the temperature is controlled in all five beakers

3. Count the particles present in each beaker of Model 1. Fill in the table to show the number of
dissolved solute particles and the number of solid solute particles.
4. Consider the beakers in Model 1.
a. Which beakers represent unsaturated solutions?
beakers A, B

b. Which beakers represent saturated solutions?

beakers C, D E
5. Beakers A–E in Model 1 are depicted as representing five different or separate solutions. They
could also be considered as five “snapshots” of the same beaker over time. In other words, if
additional measured quantities of solute were stirred into beaker A in small increments over time,
then beakers B–E would result.
a. When a small amount of additional solute is added to an unsaturated solution, what happens
to the number of dissolved particles? Provide specific evidence from Model 1 to support your
answer.
the number of dissolved particles increased. In model 1, when additional solute

was added to the unsaturated beakers the number of dissolved particles

increased.
b. When a small amount of additional solute is added to a saturated solution, what happens to
the number of dissolved particles? Provide specific evidence from Model 1 to support your
answer.
It stays the same because its already a saturated solution and it cant hold more particles.

c. Predict what would happen if a small amount of additional solute were stirred into beaker E
in Model 1.
the solute would sink to the bottom

2 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry

 6. Have each person in your group provide an example of the word “saturated” as it is used in an
everyday context. Summarize the meaning of the word in the space below.

An example of saturated in the real world is when a sponge is filled with

water and cant absorb any more water. When a substance is saturated it
reached its maximum dissolving rate.

7. Use a grammatically correct sentence to explain why beakers D and E in Model 1 are labeled as
“saturated.” Be sure to incorporate the words “solute” and “solvent” in your explanation, and
reach a consensus within your group.
They are labeled as saturated because they have the most amount of solute it

can dissolve in it.

8. What feature in the beakers in Model 1 would typically enable a student to distinguish a
saturated solution from an unsaturated one simply by looking at the beaker?

if there is no solid at the bottom of the beaker

9. Beaker C in Model 1 is shown as “saturated.” Explain why this is the correct category for
beaker C even though the typical feature listed in Question 8 is not present.

because beaker C is holding the maximum amount of dissolved solute

10. If you were handed a beaker containing a clear solution (with no solid solute at the bottom),
and asked to identify it as “saturated” or “unsaturated,” what simple test could you perform to
determine the answer.

add solute to determine if its unsaturated or saturated

Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions 3

 Model 2 – Solute Dissolved vs. Solute Added
The following data refer to an experiment in which a measured mass of solid is added to 10.0 g of
20 °C water. The mixture is stirred and allowed to sit for 3 hours. Ten separate trials are conducted for
the experiment.

Mass of Mass of
Trial
solute added solute dissolved
Number
(grams) (grams)
A 1 1.0 1.0
B 2 2.0 2.0
3 3.0 3.0
4 4.0 3.6
5 5.0 3.6
6 6.0 3.6
D 7 7.0 3.6
8 8.0 3.6
E 9 9.0 3.6
10 10.0 3.6
11. Four of the trials in Model 2 correspond to beakers A, B, D, and E from Model 1. Write the
letters for those beakers next to the corresponding trial numbers in Model 2.
12. Identify the following variables in the experiment in Model 2.
Dependent variable Independent variable Controlled variable(s)

mass of solute added mass of solute dissolved mass of solute addeed

13. Sketch a graph of the data for the experiment in Model 2. A space has been provided next to the
data table. Be sure to consider which variable belongs on each axis.
14. Consider the data in Model 2.
a. Which trials represent solutions that are unsaturated? trails 1 - 3

b. Which trial numbers represent solutions that are saturated? trials 4 - 10

c. Describe the feature in the graph that can help you identify the saturated solutions. Explain.
the mass of the solute dissolved all end in .6 when they're saturated

4 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry

 15. Which trials in the experiment in Model 2 would have visible amounts of solid on the bottom of
the beaker?
trials 4 - 10 because they're unsaturated

16. For Trial 8 in Model 2, determine the mass of solid solute remaining on the bottom of the bea-
ker. Show your calculation.
8.0 - 3.6 = 4.4 grams

17. Imagine that the contents of the beaker for Trial 8 in Model 2 are vigorously stirred and then
poured into filter paper in a funnel.
a. Is the liquid that drips from the filter (the filtrate) unsaturated or saturated? Explain.

it is saturated because the solid should have only filtered off

b. Which beaker in Model 1 best represents the filtrate that would be obtained?

beaker C

Saturated and Unsaturated Solutions 5

Extension Questions
18. Predict what would happen to the mass of solid solute sitting on the bottom of the beaker in
Trial 8 in Model 2 when the following changes occur. Use complete sentences to support your
predictions.
a. More water is added to the beaker.

the mass would decrease

b. The beaker is heated (assume no evaporation occurs).

the mass would decrease

c. The beaker is allowed to sit uncovered for two days and some water evaporates.

the mass would increase

6 POGIL™ Activities for High School Chemistry