State of matter
The state of matter refers to the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on, which are primarily determined by the arrangement and behavior of molecules. The three most common states are solids, liquids, and gases. In solids, molecules are tightly packed in a fixed arrangement, giving them a definite shape and volume. Liquids also have closely packed molecules, but they flow freely, allowing them to take the shape of their container while maintaining a constant volume. Gases, on the other hand, consist of widely spaced molecules that move independently, causing them to neither have a definite shape nor a fixed volume.
Additionally, there are two exotic states of matter: plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates. Plasma forms at extremely high temperatures when gas molecules gain enough energy to lose their electrons, resulting in a mixture of charged particles. This state is common in the universe, found in phenomena like stars and lightning. Bose-Einstein condensates occur at temperatures near absolute zero, where atoms lose energy and merge into a single quantum state, behaving as one "super atom." Understanding these states of matter and their transitions is crucial in various scientific fields, including chemistry and physics.
State of matter
The five states of matter depend on the arrangement of molecules that make up matter. The three primary states of matter are solids, liquids, and gases. The two exotic states of matter are plasmas and Bose-Einstein condensations. Matter may change from one state to another. While such changes affect the physical appearance and behavior of matter, they generally do not affect the matter's chemical makeup. Water is a good example. Water may exist as a liquid, a solid (ice), or a gas (steam). All three are chemically the same but are physically different in various states.
Primary States of Matter
Matter may exist in different states under different circumstances. Matter shifts among states as the arrangement of its molecules or atoms changes. Often these shifts result from changes in temperature. Hotter temperatures mean more energy, and more energy causes molecules to move around more. Colder temperatures mean less energy, which causes molecules to move around less. For example, at cold temperatures, water becomes the hard solid ice. At room temperature, water exists in its liquid form. When heated, water turns to steam, or water vapor, which is a gas.
Solids
In solids, molecules press tightly against one another in a consistent pattern. As a result, solids are rigid, which is why other matter cannot pass through solids. The molecules in a solid are packed so tightly that even light cannot easily pass through it. This density is why solids cast shadows. Wood, rocks, and ice are examples of solids.
All solids have a definite shape. Having a definite shape does not mean that a solid is always a sphere, a cube, or some other geometric shape. Rather, it means that a solid's shape does not change because of its surroundings. Additionally, solids have a definite volume, which means that a particular amount of the solid will always take up the same amount of space. For example, a rock left in a box will not expand to fill the box. It remains in a fixed shape and continues to take up the same amount of space.
Liquids
Liquids are another common state of matter. Like solids, molecules in a liquid are pressed closely together. Unlike solids, the molecules have no set pattern. Instead, they flow freely around one another. Consequently, liquids have no definite shape. A liquid poured into a cube-shaped container takes the shape of a cube. That same liquid poured into a bottle takes the shape of the bottle. Although liquids lack a definite shape, they do have a definite volume. A particular amount of a liquid will always take up the same amount of space. Room-temperature water is a common liquid.
Gases
The last state of matter that most people encounter daily is gas. Unlike liquids and solids, the molecules in a gas have absorbed so much energy that they have completely broken away from one another. Instead of being packed tightly together, they bounce off one another and their surroundings, shooting off in random directions. Steam and oxygen are common examples of gases.
Gases have neither a definite shape nor a definite volume. A gas released inside a container will expand to fill it, regardless of its size or shape. This occurs because gas molecules are no longer attached to one another, so they spread out as much as possible. Because molecules of gas have so much space between them, they can be forced closer together to fit into a smaller space. Scuba tanks are an example of gas compressed inside a small container.
Exotic States of Matter
The fourth state of matter is called plasma. Not to be confused with the liquid part of blood, plasma is a special, exotic state of matter. A gas becomes a plasma when exposed to extremely high temperatures. The molecules absorb more energy than they can handle, and the electrons attached to the molecules break away. The remaining cloud is then full of entirely new particles and loose electrons. Together, these make up a plasma.
Plasmas may sound rare and exciting. On Earth, plasmas are certainly rarer than solids, liquids, or gases, but they do exist. Lightning and the northern lights are plasmas that naturally occur on Earth. Neon lights and fluorescent lights also glow because of small amounts of plasma inside them. Experts believe that, beyond Earth, plasmas are the most common state of matter in the universe. All stars are made of plasma, and much of outer space is filled with plasma. Temperatures on Earth are too low for large amounts of plasma to exist.
The fifth and last state of matter is extremely rare. Most people have never seen it. Scientists think it may occur naturally but have not found any yet. However, they have managed to create it and experiment on it in laboratories. Scientists named the state the Bose-Einstein condensation, after two scientists who wrote about it before anyone could prove it actually existed.
Bose-Einstein condensations occur when certain solids are cooled to extremely cold temperatures. The solids lose so much energy that their atoms suddenly crash together. The atoms then meld into one another, occupying the same space and becoming one huge "super atom." Scientists experiment with these super atoms in laboratories and plan to use them for quantum computers and other devices in the future.
Some scientists are working to discover additional states of matter. A few think they already have discovered some. One is based on the unique molecular structures found inside the eyes of chickens. Another is based on an experiment that gave light some properties of solid matter. However, these phenomena are still under study, and no scientific consensus on them has been reached.
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