The number of thermodynamic "states" depends on the material you use.
Even gas and liquid are not completely separate states; under high pressure, the distiction between the two simply disappears, and it is possible to make a gas into a liquid without a discontinuous change.
Crystalline solids can occur in different "states", which can be distinguished in their degree and type of symmetry. Even regular water can occur in many states, such as ice I, ice II, ice III, ice V, ice VI, ice VII and ice VIII. Some of these are regular crystals, some are more "chaotic". Ice II through VIII appear under high pressure.
Mixtures also have several states, which often cannot be distinguished. One example is chocolate; another is glass, which is really a very viscuous liquid.
2006-08-15 10:03:15
·
answer #1
·
answered by dutch_prof 4
·
1⤊
0⤋
Generally, I would say that there are four basic states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. There are of course some special cases, like superfluid helium, at very extreme conditions that could also be considered "states" of matter.
2006-08-15 16:27:43
·
answer #2
·
answered by msi_cord 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
There are four states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma, although the first three are more commonly known.
2006-08-15 18:24:12
·
answer #3
·
answered by harvestgami 1
·
0⤊
0⤋
There is one other condition that might be considered a state by some. That is supercritical. In this condition a fluid has a density approaching a liquid but is compressible like a lgas. So depending on your definition it could be either or neither.
2006-08-15 17:16:05
·
answer #4
·
answered by oil field trash 7
·
0⤊
0⤋
50
2006-08-15 16:38:35
·
answer #5
·
answered by confused 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
Liquid cristals is the fifth state of matter. +the other 4 above
2006-08-15 17:08:43
·
answer #6
·
answered by weaponspervert 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
Is it still 4, or have they changed it in the last 15 years?
Solid, liquid, gas, plasma
2006-08-15 16:28:14
·
answer #7
·
answered by iandanielx 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
4 solid, liquid, gas, and plasma (sometimes plasma is not included and tht is what the 3 states comes from)
2006-08-15 16:27:57
·
answer #8
·
answered by Steve S 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Total of four.
2006-08-15 17:22:43
·
answer #9
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
3 solid liquid and gas
2006-08-15 17:35:17
·
answer #10
·
answered by legalbambino 2
·
0⤊
0⤋