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Re: [Phys-l] States of matter?



Another question to throw into the mix is:

'How much ionization is required for a gas to be considered a plasma?'

Is the singly ionized neon atom in a glowing bulb a plasma or must virtually ALL the electrons be stripped (as in a fusion reactor or the sun)?
.
At 10:57 PM +1100 10/13/11, fletcher@physics.usyd.edu.au wrote:
Peter

I think you need to take a Yin/Yang approach and give balance to the debate.

So if you have a Plasma. What would the opposite be?

You could make the argument that it would be a Bose-Einstein Condensate. That cool superfluid with low energy states.

Now you can change the debate and have 5 states of matter. Nothing like a new variable to consider!

From here you need a fulcrum to balance the debate.

Thus you can point out that the central state of matter in your new list is a liquid.

So get those feuding Chemists to buy you a drink (or two) while you ponder either side of your newly balanced Matter of State.

: )

Cheers Fletch



Quoting Peter Schoch <pschoch@nac.net>:

I find myself in the middle of a heated debate by our Chemists. Several of them gives the states of matter as: solid liquid, gas, plasma. The opposing group vehemently objects to the inclusion of plasma as a state of matter, as they claim it is just a special case of gases.

Why they think that I, as a physicist, would be a great arbiter of this is a mystery to me. After a bit of research I am leaning toward the traditional "solid, liquid, gas" argument; however, before sticking my head in the lion's mouth I thought I would solicit opinions here.

Thanks,
Peter
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