What are the 22 states of matter?

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I found this article on Wikipedia about the 22 states of matter, but did not understand their descriptions. What role does each state of matter play in our universe?

Wiki article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_of_matter

In: Physics

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

TLDR: Its all subjective based on how scientists want to group things by properties but in daily life only the classical states matter: Solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

A “state” of matter is a condition of being where a set of things in that state have a uniform set of properties, and that set is generally distinct from other states of matter. The 4 most common state of matter demonstrate this in most simple way. All other states are far less common though some are important in celestial objects or other extreme environments.

*Classical States*

**Solid**:
A set of atoms or molecules who maintain a constant volume and constant shape governed by the electromagnetic interaction between them via chemical bonding is considered a solid. Pretty understandably, all the planets and rocky bodies are solid as well as the cores of gas giants under extreme pressures.

**Liquid**:
A set of atoms or molecules with constant volume but are able to reshape freely without decreasing density, again interactions governed by the electromagnetic force.

**Gas**:
A set of atoms or molecules (un-charged & un-ionized)with neither constant shape nor volume where each particle only interacts with others by direct electromagnetic coulomb interaction (bumping into each other). After plasma, probably the second most common state of matter in the universe, forming the interstellar medium, nebulae, and gas clouds which are precursors to stars and solar systems

**Plasma**:
Same as a gas, only so hot that electrons are stripped from atomic nuclei and free to move on their own. Particles can interact over much longer ranges via the electromagnetic interaction since they are charged particles. The sun and other stars are made out of plasma, probably the most common state of matter in the universe.

*Exotic Matter*

**Neutron Degenerate Matter**:
When some stars die, the pressure of the collapsing gas and resulting supernova can become so extreme electrons are crushed into the atomic nuclei they normally surround, combining protons and electrons into neutrons. Since normal matter is 99.9% empty space (the nucleus of atoms is tiny compared to the space the electrons orbit), when a cluster of matter is only neutrons it can become far denser than a normal solid. A cubic centimeter of neutron matter has the mass of several thousand metric tons. A force called neutron degeneracy pressure prevents the neutrons from collapsing further leaving it stable as neutron stars for a very long time.

**Bose Einstein Condensate**:
This one is pretty much only found in laboratories. If you cool a cloud of gas particles very-very cold, near the coldest anything can be, strange things begin to occur. The cloud takes on the behavior of single giant (compared to a single atom or electron) quantum particle. Scientists use these to study quantum effects on slightly larger easier to observe scales.

**Time Crystals**:
Another one only found in either laboratories or only in mathematical theories, don’t totally remember. In conventional solids that have a crystalline structure, there is an order or pattern of form that repeats over 3D space, an atom here-then a gap-then another etc. Time crystals have a pattern of form that repeats over time instead meaning they oscillate or move between states or forms with some regularity, even when there is no energy in the system.

…etc…

States of matter are also subjective since there are states that blur the lines. A super-critical fluid is somewhere between a gas and a liquid, non-newtonian fluids are somewhere between a gas and a solid. Even within a state, scientists can subdivide if it help with theories or research such as crystalline solids like quartz with repeating patters vs amorphous solids like glass with no clear arrangement.

Anonymous 0 Comments

The classical states are the sorts of things you and routinely come in contact with.

The “Modern States” are special cases, which only occur in highly specialized of laboratory environments.

Please ask a more specific question about the one you don’t understand.