"The four states of matter are observable in everyday life: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma."
The different physical forms that matter can take, including solid, liquid, and gas, as well as the more exotic states like plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates. This topic covers the properties of each state and the transitions between them.
Matter: The substance which has mass and occupies space.
Physical properties of matter: The characteristics that can be observed without changing the composition of the substance.
Chemical properties of matter: The characteristics that describe how a substance reacts with other substances to form new substances.
Intermolecular forces: The forces that hold the particles of matter together and give rise to different properties of matter.
Kinetic molecular theory: A theory that explains the behavior of matter in terms of the motion and energy of the particles that make it up.
States of matter: The different forms that matter can take based on its physical properties, including solid, liquid, and gas.
Phase transitions: The changes that occur when a substance transitions from one state of matter to another, such as melting, freezing, boiling, and condensation.
Density: A measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume of a substance.
Pressure: A measure of the force exerted by particles of matter on the walls of a container.
Temperature: A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles of matter.
Heat: The transfer of energy between objects due to a temperature difference.
Thermal expansion: The tendency for matter to expand when heated and contract when cooled.
Specific heat capacity: The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a given amount of a substance by one degree Celsius.
Latent heat: The amount of energy required to change the state of a substance without changing its temperature.
Conductivity: A measure of how well a substance conducts heat or electricity.
Phase diagrams: Diagrams that show the relationships between temperature, pressure, and the different states of matter.
Plasma: A high-energy state of matter in which particles are ionized and can conduct electricity.
Bose-Einstein Condensates: An unusual state of matter in which atoms are cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero and behave as a single entity.
Superfluidity: A property of matter in which it can flow with zero viscosity.
Solid: Molecules are tightly packed together in a fixed position and vibrate in place; they have a definite shape and volume.
Liquid: Molecules are close together but have more freedom to move around each other; they have a definite volume but no fixed shape.
Gas: Molecules are widely spread out and move randomly; they have no fixed shape or volume.
Plasma: A high-energy state of matter in which atoms are stripped of their electrons, resulting in a gas-like state that conducts electricity.
Bose-Einstein condensate: A state of matter in which atoms are cooled to almost absolute zero and merge into a single entity with a unique set of properties.
Superfluid: A state of matter in which a fluid has zero viscosity, meaning it can flow without any resistance.
Superconductor: A state of matter in which a material conducts electricity with zero resistance.
Quark-gluon plasma: A state of matter that existed shortly after the Big Bang in which quarks and gluons were free and not bound in protons and neutrons.
Dark matter: A hypothetical form of matter that does not interact with light or any other forms of electromagnetic radiation, but which we infer to exist because it exerts gravitational influence.
Dark energy: A hypothetical form of energy that causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
"Many intermediate states are known to exist, such as liquid crystal."
"Some states only exist under extreme conditions, such as Bose–Einstein condensates and Fermionic condensates (in extreme cold), neutron-degenerate matter (in extreme density), and quark–gluon plasma (at extremely high energy)."
"Matter in the solid state maintains a fixed volume and shape, with component particles close together and fixed into place."
"Matter in the liquid state maintains a fixed volume, but has a variable shape that adapts to fit its container. Its particles are still close together but move freely."
"Matter in the gaseous state has both variable volume and shape, adapting both to fit its container. Its particles are neither close together nor fixed in place."
"Matter in the plasma state has variable volume and shape, and contains neutral atoms as well as a significant number of ions and electrons, both of which can move around freely."
"The term 'phase' is sometimes used as a synonym for state of matter, but it is possible for a single compound to form different phases that are in the same state of matter."
"For example, ice is the solid state of water, but there are multiple phases of ice with different crystal structures, which are formed at different pressures and temperatures."
"Extreme conditions such as extreme cold, extreme density, and extremely high energy are required for the formation of certain states of matter."
"Some states only exist under extreme conditions, such as Bose–Einstein condensates and Fermionic condensates (in extreme cold), neutron-degenerate matter (in extreme density), and quark–gluon plasma (at extremely high energy)."
"Its particles are still close together but move freely."
"Its particles are neither close together nor fixed in place."
"Matter in the plasma state contains neutral atoms as well as a significant number of ions and electrons, both of which can move around freely."
"Matter in the liquid state maintains a fixed volume, assuming no change in temperature or air pressure."
"Matter in the gaseous state has both variable volume and shape, adapting both to fit its container."
"The term 'phase' is sometimes used as a synonym for state of matter, but it is possible for a single compound to form different phases."
"A state of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist."
"In physics, a state of matter is one of the distinct forms in which matter can exist."
"Matter in the solid state... has... component particles close together and fixed in place."