Supersaturated Sodium Acetate

Supersaturated Sodium Acetate is made by putting an excessively larger amount of sodium acetate with a tiny amount of water. After heating the salt dissolves fully. After cooling the solution remains even though it is unstable. The addition of a seed crystal causes crystallization followed by the surroundings feeling warm.
What are the signs for the enthalpy and entropy changes during crystallization?
What are the implications of these signs for the Gibbs free energy changes?
What will happen at lower and higher temperatures?

[@ChemTalk]

Thanks for the demonstration Scott, we enjoyed it! Sodium acetate is one of our favorite compounds.

[@UraniumSpringsGhostline]

I have some hand warmers that work like this. There is a metal disk inside that when snapped it crystalizes creating heat. One of them once boiled and cooled will slowly start the crystalizing without snapping the metal disk. Slowly as in it takes around 24 hours. I am sure it is creating heat, but it isn't noticeable. Saying it is broken isn't correct, but what could have happened to the solution that it doesn't stay stable once at room temperature. The packaging does say don't freeze. Is it a possible this one got frozen on a camping trip and being that cold changed the chemical reaction? Any ideas to try to fix it?

[@shycraft7477]

Nacho crystals 🤤