The lowest temperature matter can can reach is 0 deg. Kelvin, is there a maximum for the highest temperature?

Question

Temperature is the measurement of molecular velocity due to thermal energy. 0 degrees Kelvin ( -460deg. F) represents zero thermal energy in a body. You cannot get any colder than this. I've wondered, is there a limit to molecular velocity, an upper limit to temperature? How hot can a molecule get before it ceases to be what it is?

Answer 1

Excellent question.

The initial "ignition" temperature for nuclear fusion is approximately 58,000,000 degrees C.

The answer to your question is probably somewhere in the 100,000,000 - 200,000,000 degree C range - this is the temperature that is estimated to be needed to sustain nuclear fusion.

Answer 2

An object will cease to be what it is when it undergoes a state in changes
It depends on what's the melting point of the object is.
For instance carbon dioxide is a solid at minus degrees.
Anything can go below 0 degree celsius,the value can continue to decrease but the molecular motion in the object will remain the same.
Using degrees of an object is not accurate as different object have different melting point/boiling point.
We use state of an object to clearly define its molecular motion.
As long as the object is a solid,its molecues are in fix position and with a orderly arrangement.
Where else,a liquid have molecues which vibrate about but yet unable to break free from its current position.
However,as the temperature increases,energy is supplied to the molecues,casuing it to gain more energy and vibrate more vigourously,thus breaking free from its fix position.

Answer 3

Theoretically, I think the answer is no. Practically, it is impossible to contain molecules which have that much kinetic energy, since upon evaporating they would form a gas and the pressure would increase proportionally to the heat.

Answer 4

Eventually the temperature will get to the point where the material breaks into single atoms, then becomes a plasma, then individual nucleons, and finally quarks.