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Phases of matter
Phases of matter ...
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Solid | A solid is matter in which the molecules are very close together and cannot move around. |
Liquid | A liquid is matter in which the molecules are close together and move around slowly. |
Gas | A gas is matter in which the molecules are widely separated, move around freely, and move at high speeds. |
Plasma | A plasma is a gas that is composed of free-floating ions (atoms stripped of some electrons - positively charged) and free electrons (negatively charged). A plasma conducts electrical currents. |
Supercritical Fluid | A supercritical (or critical) fluid is a liquid/gas under extreme pressure. These supercritical fluids have unique characteristics, the density of a liquid and the mobility of a gas. |
Degenerate Gas | A degenerate gas is one that is super-compressed and very dense. The molecules of this degenerate gas are virtually touching one another and the gas acts much like a solid. |