What really is the state of plasma, and is lightning considered plasma or things in it.?

Question

Yeah so,

1. What really is the state of plasma (like what's happening)
2. Is lightning in general (the whole) considered plasma? Or is it the ones that are found in lightning that are considered plasma. Or maybe even those that are found right before or after lightning is formed?

Answer 1

Plasma - typically an ionized gas. Plasma is considered to be a distinct state of matter, in contrast to gases because of its unique properties. "Ionized" refers to presence of one or more free electrons which is not bound to an atom or molecule. The free electric charges make the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics) )

Lightning is a form of plasma on earth. - "Lightning is an example of plasma present at Earth's surface. Typically, lightning discharges 30,000 amperes, at up to 100 million volts, and emits light, radio waves, x-rays and even gamma rays. Plasma temperatures in lightning can approach 28,000 kelvin and electron densities may exceed 1024/m3.", also from wikipedia

Answer 2

Ball lightning is a rare phenomenon in which the discharge takes the form of a slowly moving, luminous ball that sometimes explodes and sometimes simply decays. This ball lightning can also be referred to as plasma lightning, since it is mostly made of over charged plasma and it smells like it aslo.