When we look around, we see that everything we observe is made of matter: from rocks and wood to water and air, all the way to the sun. Matter is ubiquitous; our entire physical world is made of it. But have you ever wondered how many states of matter there are?
In this article, we’ll answer that question in detail by examining the properties of each state and providing examples.
Subject definition
Before we delve into the states of matter, it’s helpful to understand what matter actually is.
In chemistry and physics, anything that has mass and occupies space
is called matter. Simply put: everything you can touch or feel is matter. Even invisible substances like air are considered matter because they have mass and occupy space.
Matter consists of tiny particles called atoms . Atoms can combine to form molecules. The arrangement of these particles varies in the different states of matter; therefore, each state possesses its own unique properties.
How many states of matter are there?
Traditionally, we learn in school that matter exists in three basic states : solid, liquid, and gaseous . However, thanks to scientific advances and more precise experiments, scientists have discovered that matter can exist in many more states. Today, scientists recognize five basic states of matter, and even more have been discovered under certain conditions.
Next, we will consider the five known states of matter:
1. Solids
In the solid state, the particles of matter lie very close together. The attractive force between them is so strong that they cannot move freely and only vibrate slightly in place.
Properties of solids:
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It has a fixed shape and size.
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It doesn’t compress well.
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Its density is usually very high.
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These particles are arranged in an orderly fashion.
For example:
Stone, ice, iron, glass, wood, brick and pencil are all hard materials.
Scientific explanation:
In solids, the distances between atoms are extremely small. Therefore, their shape does not change when we put them in a container; they retain their original shape.
2. Liquid
In liquids, the distance between molecules is greater than in solids, and the attractive forces between them are weaker. Therefore, molecules in liquids can move more freely than molecules in solids.
Properties of liquids:
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It has no fixed shape, but its size is fixed.
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It has free surfaces (that is, its surfaces are always smooth).
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Everything is running smoothly.
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It is slightly compressible, but not as strongly as gases.
For example:
Water, oil, gasoline, alcohol, honey and milk are liquid substances.
Scientific explanation:
Liquids always take the shape of the container they are poured into. If you pour water into a glass, it takes the shape of the glass; if you pour water into a bottle, it takes the shape of the bottle, but the volume of water remains the same in both cases.
3. Gas
In the gaseous state, the distance between molecules is very large, and they can move completely freely. The attractive forces between gas particles are very weak; therefore, gases have neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume.
Properties of gaseous substances:
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It has neither a fixed shape nor a fixed size.
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It can be easily compressed.
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The particles move at high speed in different directions .
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Its density is extremely low.
For example:
Air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, water vapor, town gas and nitrogen are examples of gases.
Scientific explanation:
When gas is poured into a sealed container, it fills the entire space. Therefore, a balloon filled with air or gas, regardless of its shape, always remains inflated.
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4. Plasma
Plasma is the fourth state of matter and forms at extremely high temperatures. In this state, atoms absorb so much energy that they lose their electrons and transform into charged particles (ions). Plasma is a mixture of electrons and positively charged ions.
Features of plasma TVs:
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He is an excellent driver.
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It reacts to both electric and magnetic fields.
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It glows (due to the presence of charged particles).
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Temperatures there are usually very high.
For example:
The sun, stars, lightning, northern lights, flames, and neon lights are examples of plasma.
Scientific explanation:
In fact, over 99% of visible matter in the universe exists in a plasma state. Space is so hot that most matter exists as plasma.
5. Bose-Einstein condensates
This state of matter is observed at extremely low temperatures near absolute zero (-273 °C)
. At these temperatures, the particles lose most of their kinetic energy and transition into a single quantum state. Essentially, the atoms merge and behave like a single, very large particle.
Properties of Bose-Einstein condensates:
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It forms at temperatures near absolute zero.
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Its density is very high.
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It exhibits quantitative behavior (anomaly).
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It is usually produced in a laboratory, not in nature.
For example:
This condition was first created in the laboratory in 1995 using rubidium.
Comparison of different states of matter
| Special feature | difficult | fluid | gas | plasma | Bose-Einstein condensates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Fixed | Container shape variable | variable | variable | semi-permanent |
| Crowd | Fixed | Fixed | variable | variable | Fixed |
| Distance between the particles | strange | half | many | Very | strange |
| Particle energy | A little | half | many | Very | strange |
| Example | Ice, metal | Water, oil | air, steam | Sun, neon lights | Cooled Rubidium |
Are there other states of matter?
Yes. In addition to these five fundamental states of matter, scientists have discovered new states of matter under very specific conditions in recent years. These include the following :
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Quark-gluon plasma: a state of matter that exists at temperatures of up to billions of degrees (such as in the early universe after the Big Bang).
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Superfluidity: a fluid that moves without friction.
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Time crystal: A material whose structural properties are preserved over time.
Such cases are naturally observed more frequently under laboratory conditions and special circumstances than in everyday life.
Changes in the aggregation state of a substance
A substance can change its state of matter. These changes are usually accompanied by an increase or decrease in temperature and pressure
. For example:
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Melting: the transition from the solid to the liquid state (from ice to water).
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Freezing process: Liquid → Solid (Water → Ice)
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Evaporation: Liquid → Gas (Water → Steam)
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Condensation: Gas → Liquid ( Vapor → Water)
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Sublimation: Transition from the solid to the gaseous state (from dry ice to carbon dioxide).
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Condensation resistance: Gas → Solid (Ice forms in cold air)
In conclusion
short:
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In the world around us, matter exists mainly in five states of matter: solid, liquid, gaseous, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensate.
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Each state of matter of a substance has its own characteristics and properties.
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In everyday life we mainly encounter three states of matter: solid, liquid and gaseous.
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Changes in temperature and pressure can lead to changes in the aggregation state of a substance.
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Understanding the different states of matter helps us to better understand natural phenomena, from the structure of the sun to the behavior of water in a household refrigerator.