What is Saturation (chemistry)?
'''Saturation''' in [[chemistry]] can be * the point at which a [[solution]] of a substance can dissolve no more of that substance. This point of maximum concentration, the ''saturation point'', depends on the temperature of the liquid as well as the chemical nature of the substances involved. If a change in conditions (e.g. cooling) means that the concentration is higher than the saturation point, the solution has become 'supersaturated'. *In [[organic chemistry]], a saturated [[chemical compound]] has no [[double bond]] or triple bond or ring. In [[Cyclic compound|non-cyclical]], saturated [[hydrocarbons]], every carbon atom is attached to two hydrogen atoms, except those at the ends of the chain, which have three hydrogen atoms. *In [[biochemistry]], the term saturation refers to the fraction of total [[protein]] binding sites that are occupied at any given time. Applies to [[enzymes]], and molecules like [[haemoglobin|hemoglobin]]. *In [[organometallic chemistry]], an unsaturated complex has fewer than 18 [[valence]] [[electrons]] and thus is susceptible to oxidative addition or coordination of an additional [[ligand]]. Unsaturation is characteristic of many [[catalysts]] because it is usually a requirement for [[substrate]] activation. == Related pages == * [[Saturation]] [[Category:Chemistry]]