What is the effect of adding a common ion to a saturated solution?

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Q: What is the effect of adding a common ion to a saturated solution?

Solution: Adding a common ion decreases the solubility of a salt in a saturated solution due to the common ion effect.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand what a saturated solution is. A saturated solution is one where no more solute can dissolve in the solvent at a given temperature.
Step 2: Identify what a common ion is. A common ion is an ion that is already present in the solution and is also part of the salt that is dissolving.
Step 3: Recognize that when you add a common ion to the saturated solution, it increases the concentration of that ion in the solution.
Step 4: Know that according to Le Chatelier's principle, if you increase the concentration of a product (the common ion), the equilibrium will shift to the left to reduce that concentration.
Step 5: Understand that this shift to the left means that less of the salt will dissolve, thus decreasing its solubility in the solution.