How to Make an Unsaturated Solution

Choose a solute for your unsaturated solution. For example, choose table salt (NaCl) because it is readily available and its solubility does not vary greatly with temperature.

Consult a textbook or online solubility chart to identify the substance you have chosen. For example, consult the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District's solubility website and identify NaCl on the chart.

Read across the row labeled with the name of your substance to learn the solubility of the substance in grams per 100 grams of water at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), which is about room temperature. For example, the solubility of NaCl at room temperature is 37 grams per 100 grams of water.

Note that any amount of the substance less than the amount you have identified will produce an unsaturated solution. For example, any amount of salt less than 37 grams in 100 grams of water at room temperature will produce an unsaturated saltwater solution.

Decide on an amount of substance less than that identified on the chart to use in your experiment. For example, use 20 grams (0.705 ounces) of salt, which is less than the 37 grams listed on the chart.

Turn on a digital kitchen scale. Place a 150 milliliter laboratory beaker on the scale. Press the scale's "zero" or "tare" button, or follow the manufacturer's instructions for zeroing the scale.

Pour your solute substance into the beaker until scale reads the amount you have decided to use to make an unsaturated solution. For example, pour salt into the beaker until the scale indicates 20 grams (0.705 ounces).

Remove the beaker from the scale and add water to the beaker until the water level is even with the 100 mL mark on the side of the beaker. By definition, 100 grams of water equals 100 milliliters.

Stir your unsaturated solution with a spoon to completely dissolve the solute.