How to Make a Saturated Solution

A saturated solution is one where the solute is as concentrated as it can get in the solution without precipitating. You may need to make a saturated solution for a lab or to grow crystals. There are at least three ways to make a saturated solution: Add solute to the solvent until no more solute will dissolve. Keep in mind, solubility often increases with temperature, so you may be able to get more solute into a hot solvent than you would if the solvent was cool. For example, you can dissolve much more sugar in hot water than you can in cold water. Evaporate solvent from an unsaturated solution. You can evaporate the solvent by permitting air circulation or by heating the solvent. If you are growing crystals and your solution is nearly saturated, you may use evaporation to induce crystal growth. Add a seed crystal to a supersaturated solution. The seed crystal will cause the solute to precipitate, leaving a saturated solution. This is another method used to grow crystals.

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Photo: Crystals often form spontaneously as a saturated solution cools (Rifleman 82)

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