Traditionally it is thought that matter can only be found in three states: solid, liquid and gas. However, this is not true. Other states of matter have been seen that, although rare, also seem to exist . States of matter definition
Next we will see the main characteristics of each of these states, who discovered the most recent and what are the processes that make an object go from one state to another.
The states of matter are the various forms in which matter occurs in the universe. They are also known as states of aggregation of matter, since the particles aggregate or group in different ways in each state.
States of matter aggregation: what are they?
In physics, the state of aggregation of matter is understood to be one of the characteristic forms in which matter can present itself . Historically, the distinction between states of matter was made based on qualitative properties, such as the solidity of the object, the behavior of its atoms or its temperature, the traditional classification being that of liquid, solid and gas.
However, thanks to research in physics, other states that can occur in situations that cannot be replicated, such as extremely high or low temperatures, have been discovered and raised.
Next we will see the main states of matter , both those that make up the traditional classification and those that have been discovered in laboratory conditions, in addition to explaining their physical properties and how it is possible to obtain them. States of matter definition
Fundamental states
Traditionally, there have been three states of matter, based on how their atoms behave at different temperatures . These states are basically three: solid, liquid and gas. However, it was subsequently incorporated into the plasma between these ground states. The most remarkable thing about the following four states is that it is possible to observe them in everyday situations, while at home.
In order to understand the four fundamental states of aggregation of matter, in each section we are going to see how H2O, that is, water, is presented in each of these states .
1. Solid
Solid state objects are presented in a defined way, that is, their shape does not normally change, it is not possible to alter it without applying a great force or changing the state of the object in question.
The atoms of these objects intertwine forming defined structures , which gives them the ability to withstand forces without deforming the body in which they are. This makes these objects hard and resistant.
H2O in solid state is ice.
Objects that are in solid state usually have the following characteristics:
- High cohesion.
- Defined shape.
- Shape memory: depending on the object, it returns to the way it was when deformed.
- They are practically incompressible.
- Resistance to fragmentation
- No fluency.
2. Liquid
If the temperature of a solid is increased, it is likely that it ends up losing its shape until its well-organized atomic structure disappears completely, becoming a liquid. States of matter definition
Liquids have the ability to flow because their atoms, although they continue to form organized molecules, are not so close to each other, giving more freedom of movement .
H2O in a liquid state is normal, ordinary water.
In liquid state, substances have the following characteristics:
- Less cohesion.
- They have no concrete form.
- Fluency.
- Little compressible
- In the cold they contract.
- They can present diffusion.
3. Gas
In the gaseous state, matter is made up of molecules that are not bound together, having little attractive force to each other , which means that gases do not have a defined shape or volume.
Thanks to this, they expand completely freely, filling the container that contains them. Its density is much lower than that of liquids and solids . States of matter definition
The gaseous state of H2O is water vapor.
The gaseous state has the following characteristics:
- Almost zero cohesion.
- No definite shape.
- Variable volume.
- They tend to take up as much space as possible.
4. Plasma
Many people do not know this state of matter, which is curious, since it is the most common state in the universe, since it is what stars are made of.
In essence, plasma is an ionized gas, that is, the atoms that compose it have been separated from their electrons , which are subatomic particles that are normally found inside atoms.
Thus, plasma is like a gas, but made up of anions and cations, which are negatively and positively charged ions, respectively. This makes plasma an excellent conductor.
In gases, being at high temperatures, the atoms move very fast . If these atoms collide with each other very violently, it causes the electrons inside them to be released. Taking this into account, it is understandable that the gases that are on the surface of the Sun are constantly ionized, because there is a lot of temperature, causing them to become plasma. States of matter definition
Fluorescent lamps, once turned on, contain plasma inside. Also, the fire of a candle would be plasma.
Characteristics of plasmas:
- They conduct electricity.
- They are strongly influenced by magnetic fields.
- Its atoms do not make up a defined structure.
- They emit light.
- They are at high temperatures.
New states
There are not only the four states already mentioned. Under laboratory conditions, many more have been raised and discovered . Next we will see several states of aggregation of matter that could hardly be observed while at home, but that could have been deliberately created in scientific facilities, or have been hypothesized.
5. Bose-Einstein condensate
Originally predicted by Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein in 1927, the Bose-Einstein condensate was discovered in 1995 by physicists Eric A. Cornell, Wolfgang Ketterle, and Carl E. Wieman. States of matter definition
These researchers managed to cool atoms to a temperature 300 times lower than what had been achieved to date . This condensate is made up of bosons.
In this state of matter the atoms are completely still. The substance is very cold and has a high density.
6. Fermi condensate
Fermi condensate is made up of fermionic particles and looks similar to Bose-Einstein condensate, only instead of using bosons fermions are used.
This state of matter was created for the first time in 1999, although it would not be until 2003 that it could be replicated with atoms instead of just fermions, a discovery made by Deborah S. Jin.
This state of aggregation of matter, which is found at low temperatures, causes matter to acquire superfluidity, that is, the substance does not have any viscosity .
7. Super solid
This state of matter is particularly strange. It consists of bringing helium- (4) atoms to very low temperatures, close to absolute zero.
The atoms are organized in a similar way to what would be expected in a normal solid, such as ice, only here, although they would be frozen, they would not be in a totally still state .
Atoms begin to behave strangely, as if they were a solid and a fluid at the same time. It is when the laws of quantum uncertainty begin to prevail.
8. Super crystal
A super crystal is a phase of matter that is characterized by having superfluidity and, at the same time, a solidified amorphous structure . States of matter definition
Unlike normal crystals, which are solid, super crystals have the ability to flow without any type of resistance and without breaking the properly crystalline structure in which their atoms are organized.
These crystals are formed by the interaction of quantum particles at low temperatures and high densities .
9. Superfluid
The superfluid is a state of matter in which the substance does not present any type of viscosity. This differs from what would be a very fluid substance, which would be one that has a viscosity close to zero, but still has viscosity.
Superfluid is a substance that, if it were in a closed circuit, would flow endlessly without friction. It was discovered in 1937 by Piotr Kapitsa, John F. Allen, and Don Misener.
State changes
State changes are processes in which one state of aggregation of matter changes to another, maintaining a similarity in its chemical composition . Next we will see the different transformations that matter can present. States of matter definition
1. Fusion
It is the passage from a solid to a liquid state through heat. Melting point is the temperature to which a solid must be exposed to melt, and it varies from substance to substance . For example, the melting point of ice in water is 0 degrees Celsius.
2. Solidification
It is the passage from a liquid to a solid through the loss of temperature. The solidification point, also called the freezing point, is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid . Match the melting point of each substance.
3. Evaporation and boiling
They are the processes by which a liquid passes into a gaseous state. In the case of water, its boiling point is 100 degrees Celsius .
4. Condensation
It is the change of state of matter from a gas to a liquid. It can be understood as the opposite process to evaporation .
This is what happens to water vapor when it rains, since its temperature drops and the gas goes into a liquid state, precipitating. States of matter definition
5. Sublimation
It is the process that consists of the change of state of a matter that is in a solid state going to a gaseous state, without going through the liquid state along the way.
An example of a substance that is capable of sublimation is dry ice .
6. Reverse sublimation
It consists of a gas passing to the solid state without previously transforming into a liquid .
7. Deionization
It is the change from a plasma to a gas.
8. Ionization
It is the change from a gas to a plasma.
