In a saturated solution at a fixed temperature, adding more solute will?

• A. It dissolves instantly.
• B. It changes the color of the solution.
• C. It increases the solvent amount.
• D. Not dissolve and remain as a solid.

Answer: (D)

At a fixed temperature, a saturated solution has dissolved the maximum amount of solute possible. The system is in equilibrium: some solute dissolves while the same amount may crystallize out, keeping the dissolved amount constant. When you add more solute, the solution cannot take it into the liquid phase because it would exceed the solubility limit, so the extra solid remains undissolved and may settle at the bottom as a precipitate. The solvent amount doesn’t increase just by adding more solute, and the solution’s color won’t necessarily change. If you want more solute to dissolve, you’d need to raise the temperature (or change the solvent).