There are traditionally four fundamental states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. These are the most commonly recognized states occurring naturally in the universe. Beyond these, there are exotic and less familiar states like Bose-Einstein condensates, Fermionic condensates, quark-gluon plasma, and others that occur under extreme conditions. Some sources mention up to seven or more states when including these exotic forms, but the core classical states remain four.
Fundamental States of Matter
- Solid : Particles are tightly packed in a fixed structure, giving solids a definite shape and volume.
- Liquid : Particles are close but move freely, allowing liquids to take the shape of their container while maintaining volume.
- Gas : Particles move freely and spread out to fill the volume and shape of the container.
- Plasma : Ionized gas with charged particles that respond to electromagnetic fields.
Exotic and Additional States
- Bose-Einstein Condensate : Occurs near absolute zero where particles occupy the same quantum state.
- Fermionic Condensate : Similar to Bose-Einstein but made of fermions.
- Quark-Gluon Plasma : Exists at extremely high temperatures and energy, where protons and neutrons break down.
- Others such as supersolids, liquid crystals, and neutron-degenerate matter are also recognized in advanced physics.
In summary, while four states are fundamental and familiar, the complete number of states varies based on scientific context and the conditions considered, ranging from four to seven or more in total.
