States
OF Matter:
At the beginning of their first
chemistry class, students are taught that there are three 'states' of matter;
solid, liquid and gas. From that point on, additional 'states' of matter are
introduced at regular intervals.
There are several different types of
states of matter.
1. Solid
2. Liquid
3. Gas
4. Plasma
5. Beam
6. Thought
Wave
7. Bose-Einstein
Condensate
Solid
Solid is a state of matter
that has a fixed shape and fixed volume. A solid is made up of tiny particles
of matter such as atoms and molecules that are held together by chemical bonds.
The atoms and molecules are held rigidly in place that does not allow the solid
to change shape or volume. Hence, a solid cannot fill out the shape of a
container like a liquid or fill the every space of a container like a gas.
The atoms and molecules in
a solid are tightly bound to each other in either a regular geometric lattice
or irregularly. The regular geometric lattice is most common and can be found
in most solids, including ice. Solids with irregularly bound atoms are known as
amorphous solids. This includes glass and polystyrene.
When some solids are
heated, the energy from the heat is absorbed by the atoms. The atoms then get
excited and start to move around. The bonds that held the atom in place tend to
loosen, allowing the atoms to move further away from each other. Essentially,
this is the process of melting. When the solid has melted thoroughly, it is
then deemed to be a liquid.
Liquid
The atom s or molecule
s of matter in the liquid state are compressed as tightly as those of matter in
the solid state, but the atoms or molecules in a liquid can move freely among
each other. Examples of liquids are water at room temperature (approximately 20
ºC or 68 ºF), oil at room temperature, and alcohol at room temperature.
When a liquid is
heated, the atoms or molecules gain kinetic energy. If the temperature becomes
sufficiently high, the liquid becomes a gas, or it may react with chemicals in
the environment. Water is an example of a liquid that becomes gaseous when it
is heated gradually. Alcohol will combust (combined with oxygen in the
atmosphere) if heated suddenly and dramatically.
When a liquid is cooled,
the atoms or molecules lose kinetic energy. If the temperature becomes low
enough, the liquid becomes a solid. Water is a good example. If cooled down, it
freezes into ice.
Gas:
A gas is a state of matter that has no definite shape or volume.
Gases are either made up of one type of atom or compound molecules made from a
variety of atoms. Unlike a liquid or solid, these atoms or molecules are not
held together via strong bonds or attraction. Hence, the atoms and molecules
move around freely with a lot of space between the particles.
Due
to this space between the molecules, most gases appear to be colorless to the
naked eye. Hence, as compared to solid or liquid, it is very difficult to
measure pressure, volume, number of particles and/or temperature of the gas.
However, it is still possible.
Furthermore, the ability of the atoms and molecules of the gas
to spread out from each other allows a gas to fill the entire space of the
container it is in. Scientists have been able to use this ability to measure
weight and volume of the gas. Compared to the other states of matter, gases
have low density and viscosity. Also, pressure and temperature influence the
particles within a certain volume of gas. This means that the weight, density,
and volume may fluctuate depending on the pressure and temperature.
As the pressure increases and temperature decreases, the
molecules in the gas will come closer to each other. After a point, the
molecules will be so close to each other that their bonds will allow them to
become a liquid. Whereas, if the pressure decreases and the temperature
increases, then the molecules will be forced to move further apart from each
other and may even break their bonds altogether after a point.
Plasma:
The fourth state of
matter above gas is plasma. Plasma is ionized gas. It is gas that is super heated to the point some of its electrons break away from their nuclei and
join other nuclei. The gas molecules are in an unstable state and therefore
behave in a haphazard and unpredictable manner. Stars are made of plasma Fire
is plasma. It is powerful, dangerous and attractive at the same time. A spark
is an example of a plasma.
Beam:
Beam is harmonious and
coherent whereas plasma is chaotic and erratic. The vast difference of temperament
between the fourth and fifth state of matter very well corresponds to the idea
that there is greatest amount of chaos right before order, or there is greatest
amount of confusion right before clarity appears.
Beam also differs from the other
four states in terms of being non-thermal while the rest are thermal. The more
energetic the vibrations of particles are, the more heat they would generate.
But because the particles of beam are traveling in the same direction, they do
not collide against each other to generate heat.
Friction is the cause
of heat. Friction is the result of particles colliding with each other and
increasing their vibration or kinetic energy. Beam creates heat not in itself
but when its particles clash against other matter. You feel the heat of light
when its photons clash against the molecules of your skin. The greater the
intensity of the beam and the more concentrated it is, the more friction it
will generate when it interacts with other matter. You get incinerated when you
get close enough to the sun.
Thought Wave:
Thought wave is the
sixth state of matter. Thought wave exists at a higher energetic level than
beam. Thought wave can move even faster than beam. It moves at the speed of
infinity. It is at once here and at once there. Thought wave is local and
non local.
Bose-Einstein
Condensate:
There is a state lower
than all these states. It is the zero state of matter. The zero state of matter
is known as the BEC or Bose-Einstein Condensate. It is the most condensed
condensate of all matter.
This state of matter
was discovered by the scientist called Bose. He shared his findings with
Einstein who helped him to publish his work to the world. Their joint venture
resulted in the newly discovered state of matter being known as the
Bose-Einstein Condensate.
A BEC exists when
matter is frozen to extremely low temperatures that are a tiny fraction of a
degree above absolute zero.
In this state, the
atoms overlap into each other to form a wave. The BEC is a matter wave. If the
wave was compressed, it would form a singularity. If enough mass was condensed
into the singularity it could turn into a black hole.
It is believed that the
zero state of matter could lead to the development of flat space technology. In
future, it might be possible to transport huge objects in very tiny spaces as
long as they are not compressed beyond the critical mass which would result in
a black hole.
The occurrence of a
black hole while making BEC would not need to be too much of a concern anyway
because it would require a tremendous amount of energy to compress mass into
the critical point.
The zero state of
matter, like the fifth state of matter, is also non-thermal. It does not emit
heat as well since its particles are not in motion at all thereby not causing
friction.
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