Question

A supersaturated solution is a metastable solution whose concentration:
A: is equal to the solubility of the substance in solvent
B: is less than the solubility
C: exceeds the solubility
D: continuously changes

Answer 1

Hint: A supersaturated solution refers to that solution which does not have any further capacity to dissolve more solute. For example, when u dissolve common salt in water, it becomes saturated up to a certain limit and you are not able to dissolve any more salt normally but still you can dissolve further salt up to on heating we can dissolve more salt up to some extent on heating which is known as a supersaturated condition. After this extent, if you try to dissolve more salt, it will settle down in the container.

Complete step by step answer:
A metastable state is a state in which a solution exists at an energy level above the energy level of a stable state and if the solution gets a small amount of more energy, it can transit from metastable back to stable state. Thus, supersaturated solution is considered to be a metastable solution as it is apparently stable. In supersaturated solution, excess amount of salt is dissolved in water. The excess or extra salt usually acquires the form of crystals. Therefore, the concentration of supersaturated solution exceeds the solubility.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

Note:
The supersaturated solution has applications in pharmaceutical industries. By forming a supersaturated solution of a particular drug, it can easily be ingested in the form of liquid. The other applications of supersaturation lie in atmospheric studies as well as ecology.