What is a distinguishing feature of a saturated solution?

A saturated solution is characterized by its ability to dissolve solute up to a certain limit at a given temperature. When a solution is saturated, it means that the maximum amount of solute has been dissolved in the solvent, and any additional solute will not dissolve. Thus, at that specific temperature, adding more solute will result in the solute remaining undissolved, indicating that the solution has reached equilibrium between the dissolved solute and the undissolved solid.

This concept is central to understanding solution dynamics in chemistry, as it illustrates the balance between solute and solvent. In essence, a saturated solution reflects the solubility limit of the solute under the conditions present, making this characteristic critical for predicting how substances will behave in solution.