RNA extraction

[Farid jalali]

Hello, 

I am trying to isolate RNA from a cyanobacterium (Synechococcus PCC 7942)
and in many of the protocols I have been reviewing they say to use water 
saturated phenol. I have a couple of questions regarding this. Firstly, 
how come water saturated, and not buffer saturated. Secondly, and I hope 
this doesn't sound too stupid, how do you saturate the phenol with water. 
When do you know enough is enough.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Farid Jalali
Department of Botany
Erindale  College
University of Toronto