Saturated and Supersaturated Sugar Solutions

When no more sugar can be dissolved in a certain amount of water at a certain temperature, the solution is said to be saturated. When a saturated solution is then heated to evaporate some of the water, the solution becomes supersaturated. Supersaturated solutions contain a higher concentration of sugar than could have been initially dissolved in the same amount of water. Supersaturated solutions are delicate systems. Sugar molecules are attracted to each other, and with so many of them in such a small amount of liquid, they are quite likely to join together. This action results in the formation of crystals.