(Most teachers dont teach about plasma) Matter occurs in four states: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Often the state of matter of a substance may be changed by adding or removing heat energy from it. For example, the addition of heat can melt ice into liquid water and turn water into steam.
Solids
•A solid has a definite shape and volume.
•Examples of solids include ice (solid water), a bar of steel, and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).
Liquids •A liquid has a definite volume, but takes the shape of its container.
•Examples of liquids include water and oil.
Gases •A gas has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
•Examples of gases are air, oxygen, and helium.
Some introductory chemistry texts name solids, liquids, and gases as the three states of matter, but higher level texts recognize plasma as a fourth state of matter.
Plasma
•Plasma has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
•Plasma often is seen in ionized gases. Plasma is distinct from a gas because it possesses unique properties. Free electrical charges (not bound to atoms or ions) cause plasma to be electrically conductive. Plasma may be formed by heating and ionizing a gas.
•Stars are made of plasma. Lightning is plasma. You can find plasma inside fluorescent lights and neon signs.
There is a good answer from "Helping". Depending on what level you are at, there are things like diffusion to consider too. Welcome to RW, we can share help on all sorts of chemical topics.
(Most teachers dont teach about plasma) Matter occurs in four states: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. Often the state of matter of a substance may be changed by adding or removing heat energy from it. For example, the addition of heat can melt ice into liquid water and turn water into steam.
Solids
•A solid has a definite shape and volume.
•Examples of solids include ice (solid water), a bar of steel, and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).
Liquids •A liquid has a definite volume, but takes the shape of its container.
•Examples of liquids include water and oil.
Gases •A gas has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
•Examples of gases are air, oxygen, and helium.
Some introductory chemistry texts name solids, liquids, and gases as the three states of matter, but higher level texts recognize plasma as a fourth state of matter.
Plasma
•Plasma has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
•Plasma often is seen in ionized gases. Plasma is distinct from a gas because it possesses unique properties. Free electrical charges (not bound to atoms or ions) cause plasma to be electrically conductive. Plasma may be formed by heating and ionizing a gas.
•Stars are made of plasma. Lightning is plasma. You can find plasma inside fluorescent lights and neon signs.
There is a good answer from "Helping". Depending on what level you are at, there are things like diffusion to consider too. Welcome to RW, we can share help on all sorts of chemical topics.