Saturation

Saturation occurs when a substance which has been combining with another substance (a solution) has reached the point where there is no space for any more. When combining substance A (the solvent) with substance B (the solute) it can be said that it has reached saturation when no more substance B can be added to substance A. A sponge is said to be saturated when it cannot hold any more water - all of the available space in the sponge has been filled with water. After the sponge is saturated it cannot hold any more water and any excess water will drip off of the sponge.