saturation

saturation, of an organic compound

saturation, of an organic compound, condition occurring when its molecules contain no double or triple bonds and thus cannot undergo addition reactions. For example, ethane (H₃C-CH₃) is a saturated compound. A compound is called unsaturated if it can undergo addition reactions. In the unsaturated compound ethene (H₂C=CH₂), the carbon-carbon double bond readily reacts, e.g., with hydrogen to form ethane.

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saturation, of a solution

saturation, of a solution: see solution.

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saturation

State of an organic compound in which all its carbon atoms are linked by single covalent bonds. Saturation also means the state of a solution or vapour (see vaporization) in which it has the highest possible concentration of the dissolved or vaporized material at a given pressure and temperature. Though it is sometimes possible to bring about supersaturation (a concentration exceeding the equilibrium value), such solutions or vapours are unstable and spontaneously revert to the saturated state, accompanied by the transformation of the excess material to the solid or liquid form (precipitation). See also fatty acid; hydrogenation.

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saturation

(1) On magnetic media, a condition in which the magnetizable particles are completely aligned and a more powerful writing signal will not improve the reading back.

(2) In a bipolar transistor, a condition in which the current on the gate (the trigger) is equal to or greater than what is necessary to close the switch.

(3) In a diode, a condition in which the diode is fully conducting.

(4) In a color, the amount of black it contains. For example, a fully saturated red would be a pure red. The less saturated, the more pastel the appearance. See chrominance, luminance and hue.

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saturation

1. Chem the state of a chemical compound, solution, or vapour when it is saturated

2. Meteorol the state of the atmosphere when it can hold no more water vapour at its particular temperature and pressure, the relative humidity then being 100 per cent

3. the attribute of a colour that enables an observer to judge its proportion of pure chromatic colour

4. Physics the state of a ferromagnetic material in which it is fully magnetized. The magnetic domains are then all fully aligned

5. Electronics the state of a valve or semiconductor device that is carrying the maximum current of which it is capable and is therefore unresponsive to further increases of input signal

6. the level beyond which demand for a product or service is not expected to increase

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saturation [‚sach·ə′rā·shən]

(electronics)

The condition that occurs when a transistor is driven so that it becomes biased in the forward direction (the collector becomes positive with respect to the base, for example, in apnptype of transistor).

anode saturation temperature saturation

(electromagnetism)

magnetic saturation

(meteorology)

The maximum water vapor per unit volume that a parcel of air can contain at a given temperature.

(nucleonics)

The condition in which the decay rate of a given radionuclide is equal to its rate of production in an induced nuclear reaction.

The condition in which the voltage applied to an ionization chamber is high enough to collect all the ions formed by radiation but not high enough to produce ionization by collision.

(optics)

color saturation

(ordnance)

The striking of a target area with such numbers of missiles that no place in it remains untouched by destruction.

(physics)

The condition in which a further increase in some cause produces no further increase in the resultant effect.

The property exhibited by certain forces between particles wherein each particle can interact strongly with only a limited number of other particles, as in the forces between atoms in a molecule, and between nucleons in a nucleus.

(physical chemistry)

The condition in which the partial pressure of any fluid constituent is equal to its maximum possible partial pressure under the existing environmental conditions, such that any increase in the amount of that constituent will initiate within it a change to a more condensed state.