What phenomenon occurs when a supercooled sodium acetate solution recrystallizes upon agitation?

The phenomenon that occurs when a supercooled sodium acetate solution recrystallizes upon agitation is known as incipient recrystallization. This process involves the sudden formation of solid crystals from a supersaturated or supercooled liquid. When sodium acetate is cooled below its freezing point without solidifying, it becomes supercooled. Upon agitation, this stability is disrupted, and the solution can quickly crystallize, releasing heat in the process, which is an example of a spontaneous reaction.

In the context of the other options, supercooling refers more broadly to the process of cooling a liquid below its freezing point without it becoming a solid. While this concept is related to what occurs before the recrystallization happens, it's not specific to the action of agitation leading to solid formation. The term specific heat capacity transfer relates to how heat is transferred within a substance and isn't directly connected to the crystallization process. Supersaturation describes a state in which a solution contains more solute than can be dissolved at a given temperature and pressure, and while it can lead to recrystallization, it doesn't specifically capture the action of agitation leading to the sudden formation of crystals as incipient recrystallization does. Therefore, understanding incipient recrystallization highlights the specific conditions under