Final answer:
The solubility of most solids in a liquid tends to increase with rising temperature. A supersaturated solution can precipitate excess solute when a seed crystal is added, and a saturated solution can be cooled to become supersaturated without precipitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering a solution of a solid in a liquid, there are several important concepts related to solubility and temperature:
Most solids in solution exhibit a general trend of increasing solubility with increasing temperature. This means that as the temperature rises, the amount of solid that can be dissolved in a liquid generally increases.
Adding a seed crystal to a supersaturated solution can initiate the precipitation of excess solute. This process allows the solute to come out of the solution and form a solid precipitate.
A solution can be saturated at an elevated temperature and then cooled to a lower temperature without immediately causing the solute to precipitate out. This results in a supersaturated solution, which is stable until a disturbance such as a seed crystal or mechanical agitation occurs.
The statement that most solids will dissolve less with increasing temperature is not true and is the opposite of the general trend for solubility with respect to temperature.