states of matter
Solid, liquid, gas
States of matter are the distinct physical forms that matter can take depending on temperature and pressure.
The classical three are solid, liquid, and gas—ice, water, and steam being the familiar example.
Plasma, a fourth state, occurs when gas becomes ionized at extreme temperatures.
Each state reflects how tightly molecules are bound and how freely they move.
Solid-to-liquid transition
- freezingExtremely cold
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- sublimationSolid to gas directly
deposition · evaporation · vaporization · solidification · liquefaction · phase change · latent heat · melting point
Smallest elemental units
- moleculesBonded atomic groups
- bondingForming close connections
- kinetic energyPower from movement
- vibrationRapid oscillating movement
electron · structure · hydrogen bonding · ionic · covalent · lattice · thermal energy · entropy
Ordered-atom solid
- iceWater's solid form
- rockSolid earthen material
- metalHard conductive solid
- woodTree-derived building material
diamond · glass · granite · marble · concrete · ceramics · porcelain · amber
Gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
- vaporGaseous form of liquid
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
hydrogen · helium · argon · neon · methane · atmosphere · diffusion · pressure
Clear essential liquid
- oilSlippery viscous fluid
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
- alcoholIntoxicating hydroxyl compound
- milkMammalian nursing fluid
juice · seawater · molten · viscosity · fluidity · flow · wetness · pourable
Converted to charged particles
- auroraAtmospheric light display
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- solar windContinuous stellar particle emission
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
stellar · fusion · nebula · fluorescent · neon sign · tokamak · flame · thermonuclear
melting
Solid-to-liquid transition
- freezingExtremely cold
- boilingLiquid vaporization temperature
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
sublimation · deposition · evaporation · vaporization · solidification · liquefaction · phase change · latent heat · melting point · boiling point
atoms
Smallest elemental units
- moleculesBonded atomic groups
- bondingForming close connections
- kinetic energyPower from movement
vibration · electron · structure · hydrogen bonding · ionic · covalent · lattice · thermal energy · entropy · enthalpy
crystal
Ordered-atom solid
wood · diamond · glass · granite · marble · concrete · ceramics · porcelain · amber · alloy
air
Gaseous envelope surrounding Earth
carbon dioxide · hydrogen · helium · argon · neon · methane · atmosphere · diffusion · pressure · expansion
water
Clear essential liquid
milk · juice · seawater · molten · viscosity · fluidity · flow · wetness · pourable · solvent
ionized
Converted to charged particles
- auroraAtmospheric light display
- lightningAtmospheric electrical discharge
- solar windContinuous stellar particle emission
corona · stellar · fusion · nebula · fluorescent · neon sign · tokamak · flame · thermonuclear · interstellar
- matteratoms, molecules, atom, molecule, element
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
- element groupsalkali metals, halogens, noble gases, transition metals, lanthanides
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- science classbiology, chemistry, physics, lab, experiment
states of matterchemical composition
Elements forming a substance
chemical properties · molecular structure · atomic number · atomic structure · chemical formula
state, matter, stated, states, interstate, stating, plasma, statecraft, statewide