Question

A student adds solid KCI to water in a flask. The flask is sealed with a stopper and thoroughly shaken until no more solid KCI dissolves. Some solid KCI can be seen at the bottom of the flask but any further KCl added would cause the solution to precipitate. The solution in the flask is ______.

A. saturated and is at equilibrium with the solid KCI
B. saturated and is not at equilibrium with the solid KGI
C. unsaturated and is at equilibrium with the solid KCI
D. unsaturated and is not at equilibrium with the solid KCl

Answer 1

Answer: Option (A) is the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When small amount of solute is added to a solvent and if it readily dissolves then this type of solution is known as an unsaturated solution.

For example, in the given situation when calcium chloride is first dissolved in water then it completely dissolves and this makes the solution unsaturated.

And, a saturated solution is defined as a solution which contains maximum amount of solute.

In the given situation, addition of further KCl won't dissolve the salt which means that the solution has become saturated. And, equilibirum is defined as a state in which the rate of forward reaction is equal to the rate of backward reaction.

Thus, we can conclude that the solution in the flask is saturated and is at equilibrium with the solid KCI.