Print page

Email page

Supersaturation chemicals

Q: How do I obtain supersaturation for chemicals in which solubility increases with temperature until after a point, it decreases? What type of supersaturation is it?

A: Supersaturation is always defined as what is in excess in the mother liquor versus what should be there based on the thermodynamics and solubility curve, regardless of the temperature. It is highly unusual to have a reversal in solubility trend with an increase in temperature. Perhaps you are dealing with hydrates, solvates or even polymorphs.