Matter can exist in different physical forms, known as states of matter, including solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensate. The state of matter depends on the strength of intermolecular forces. Classical states can switch between each other through heat and pressure, while non-classical states require specific conditions or exist in theory. Plasma is the most abundant state in the universe. Other non-classical states include beakers and liquid crystals.
The states of matter are the different physical forms that matter can reach depending on its molecular configuration. The three classical states – solid, liquid and gas – are easily observed on Earth and can switch between them. Of the nonclassical states of matter, plasma is the most abundant, accounting for a large percentage of the baryonic matter in the known universe. Other non-classical states may bear strong similarities to classical ones, require specific environmental conditions, or exist primarily in theory. The Bose-Einstein condensate, one of the first confirmed theoretical states, is widely accepted as the fifth primary state of matter, after the classic three and plasma.
The state of matter of an object largely depends on the strength and character of its intermolecular forces. In solids, for example, the forces are strong enough to pack particles tightly together, allowing for vibration as the only form of motion. As a result, solids are able to achieve defined shapes and volumes. Liquids, on the other hand, have weaker intermolecular forces which attract particles together. Liquids have no definite shape; they follow the shape of their containers and fill as much space as their volumes allow. The intermolecular forces of gases are even weaker than liquids, resulting in a shape that tends to expand throughout the container, regardless of the volume of gases.
The three classical states of matter can switch from one to another with the help of heat and pressure. The process by which solids become liquids is known as melting, while the reverse is known as freezing or solidification. This is often illustrated with water: In its liquid state, water can be frozen into ice, a solid, which can later be dissolved back into liquid water. With enough heat and pressure, liquids can become gases through a process known as vaporization; the reverse of which is known as condensation. Solids can transform directly into gases via sublimation, while gases can become solids via deposition.
Although classical states of matter are commonly observed on Earth, plasma makes up most of the matter in stars. Plasma is an ionized gas which, unlike the classical state, generates electromagnetic currents. Bose-Einstein condensates, named after Satyendra Nath Bose and Albert Einstein, are gases cooled to a point where the particles stop acting independently, resulting in a singular, frictionless quantum state. Outside of these five main states of matter, scientists theorize about numerous others, such as strange and dark matter. Beakers and liquid crystals, among others, are considered different enough from the five to be classified as non-classical states of matter in their own right.
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