Final answer:
A saturated solution contains the maximum amount of solute that can dissolve in a solvent at a given temperature, and can vary from dilute to concentrated. Supersaturated solutions contain more solute than this limit but are unstable.
Step-by-step explanation:
A saturated solution is one where the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved in a given amount of solvent at a specific temperature. When comparing saturated solutions, they can either be dilute or concentrated. For example, a saturated solution of silver chloride (AgCl) in water might be considered dilute (0.00019 g of AgCl per 100 g of H₂O), while a saturated solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in water could be considered concentrated (36.1 g of NaCl per 100 g of H₂O).
Under certain conditions, it is possible to create supersaturated solutions by dissolving more solute than the normal saturation limit. This is typically done by heating the solvent and allowing the solution to cool slowly. These supersaturated solutions are unstable and can precipitate excess solute if a seed crystal is introduced.