I was taught that there are 4 states of matter solids,liquids,gases, and sometimes plasma.Ever heard of that?

Question

Just wondering if this was ever taught to anyone else? I have asked several professors who never heard such a thing. Is it false knowledge?

Answer 1

yes plasama is the forth state of matter.Plasmas are conductive assemblies of charged particles, neutrals and fields that exhibit collective effects. Further, plasmas carry electrical currents and generate magnetic fields. Plasmas are the most common form of matter, comprising more than 99% of the visible universe, and permeate the solar system, interstellar and intergalactic environments.

Plasmas are radically multiscale in two senses
(1) most plasma systems involve electro-dynamic coupling across micro-, meso- and macroscale and (2) plasma systems occur over most of the physically possible ranges in space, energy and density scales. The figure here illustrates where many plasma systems occur in terms of typical densities and temperatures.
Contemporary Physics Education Project

However, the full range of possible plasma density, energy(temperature) and spatial scales go far beyond this illustration. For example, some space plasmas have been measured to be lower in density than 10 to the power -10 per cubic meter or (10exp-10)/m3 - 13 orders of magnitude less than the scale shown in the figure! On the other extreme, quark-gluon plasmas (although mediated via the strong force field versus the electromagnetic field) are extremely dense nuclear states of matter. For temperature (or energy), some plasma crystal states produced in the laboratory have temperatures close to absolute zero. In contrast, space plasmas have been measured with thermal temperatures above 10+9 degrees Kelvin and cosmic rays (a type of plasma with very large gyroradii) are observed at energies well above those produced in any man-made accelerator laboratory. Considering Powers of 10 is useful for grasping the unique way in which plasmas are radically multi-scale in space, energy and density.

Answer 2

In most cases, matter on Earth has electrons that orbit around the atom's nucleus. The negatively charged electrons are attracted to the positively charged nucleus. Remember, opposites attract! So the electrons stay in orbit around the nucleus. When temperatures get REALLY hot, the electrons can escape out of their orbit around the atom's nucleus. When the electron(s) leave, that leaves behind what scientists call a positively charged ion. This whole process is similar to a spacecraft that escapes the Earth's gravitational pull.

In summary, when electrons are no longer trapped in orbits around the nucleus, we have the plasma state. This is when a gas becomes a bunch of electrons which have escaped the pull of the nucleus and ions which are positively charged because they have lost one or more electrons.

Most of the matter in the universe is found in the plasma state. That is because stars contain so much of the matter in the universe (stars are so hot that their matter can only exist in the plasma state).
and let me tell you,gel is not a state of matter.Its a colloidal sol of solid and liquid.

Answer 3

Our knowledge comes from experience!
As we can treat and control higher temperatures, our knowledge, somehow, expands and thus we might find, from time to time, new elements, ways, issues, etc. So, we are discovering new phases, also!
To the best of our knowledge, interpretation and vision, we do have those four states! As we will expand our capacities, we might even get new, that our mind can not vision now!
Yes, there is the state of plasma, at extreme for us conditions (pressure, temperature, ..)

Answer 4

I think there's only 3 states of matter solids, liquids, gas

Answer 5

Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma, yep, 4 states of matter. Or not. There's FIVE states of matter. Solid, gel, liquid, gas, plasma.

Answer 6

There are five states of matter- solid, liquid, gas, plasma, BEC (Bose- Einstein condensate). Plasma is highly energetic and ionised gas.

Answer 7

There are lots more than 4. Or 5. Or even 6.

Se below:

Answer 8

I was taught that too a long long time ago. But one of my teachers told me that it was somehow outdated - not sure about that.

But you're not alone!

Answer 9

And don't forget the Bose-Einstein Condensate.. I guess thats five....

Answer 10

I never heard of that... lol its solids liquids and gasses...