what is plasma?

Question

If fire is made of plasma. The 4th material, where does it come from when it is fire, where does it go when the fire disappears, and does plasma have to be hot to exist? I find this a fascinating material.

Answer 1

Plasma is another state of matter.

In physics and chemistry, gas, liquid, solid, and plasma are the four states of matter. It is the most abundant state in the universe. It is said 99% of the visible universe is plasma.

You can get plasma by heating gas to such a high degree that electrons are stripped from the nucleus; where the gas has now been ionized.

Examples of plasma:
1) It is used to start fusion reactions inside a machine know as the Tokamak.
2) Solar flare/ Solar radiation.
3) Northern Lights- Aurora Borealis

Answer 2

I still don't understand why you idiots think fire is a type of plasma and here's why:
1. Plasma is composed of charged ions which fire is not because if fire was made of plasma then if you held a magnetically charged object next to a flame it would be either be repelled from the magnet or attracted to it neither of which fire does.
2. Plasma will conduct electricity which fire does not for the most part, (electricity will pass through a flame but if you have a high enough voltage and amperage anything will conduct electricity).
3. Plasma will produce an electric current in a conductor that is passed through it, which fire does not.
There are three simple reasons why fire is not a form of plasma and all three of those reasons can be tested in a flame by almost anyone.
Fire is made of solid particles of soot, ash, or other solid material given off by the combustion, that has been heated up until it gives off visible light which we see as a flame, and in no way involves any type of plasma in any part of the flame.

Answer 3

You typically think of 3 states of matter - solid, liquid, and gas ie H2O as ice, water and steam ... but plasma is when gas is heated so hot that one or more electrons are stripped from the molecule. So plasma isn't a different material - just material in a different state -ie when ice melts - there is water, when plasma cools - you have the same material but it is now just a gas. Hydrogen in the sun due to extreme pressure / temperature is in a plasma state. Fire isn't plasma - the flames are energy created in a chemical reaction.

Answer 4

The blood plasma or plasma displays (like tv, cell phones, etc)?

blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Plasma is the largest single component of blood, making up about 55% of total blood volume. Blood plasma contains many vital proteins including fibrinogen, globulins and human serum albumin. Sometimes blood plasma can contain viral impurities which must be extracted through viral processing.

A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat panel display now commonly used for large TV displays. Many tiny cells located between two panels of glass hold an inert mixture of noble gases (neon and xenon). The gas in the cells is electrically turned into a plasma which then excites phosphors to emit light.

Answer 5

In physics and chemistry, a plasma is typically an ionized gas, and is usually considered to be a distinct phase of matter in contrast to solids, liquids, and gases because of its unique properties. "Ionized" means that at least one electron has been dissociated from a proportion of the atoms or molecules. The free electric charges make the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields.

Answer 6

Ions, which lost electrons and have positive charges, could be considered plasma. Fire, is not plasma since it contains many elements in fire.

Answer 7

Plasma helps clot your blood too...

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29

Answer 9

you know, it's like, whatever