The FIVE Phases of Matter

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You will most probably have learnt that all matter exists in one of three fundamental states or phases, pecifically solids, liquids, and gases. In recent years, scientists have
however discovered two more phases of matter. These states
of matter are namely Plasma and Bose- Einstein Condensate. Each state of matter has a different density and a different level of stability. 

Anything that has mass and volume (occupies space) is
considered to be matter. The bond between its atoms determines the stability of each state of matter. The tighter that the bond between its atoms is - the more stable that
state of matter is. Atoms are the basic constituents of matter, which form molecules and compounds. Matter is made up of what atoms and molecules are made of, meaning anything made of positively charged protons, neutral neutrons, and negatively charged electrons.  

Solids

Solids, the first state of matter are the most stable form. Solids have a definite shape size and volume, so do not take the shape of their container. They are hard to compress. Types of solids include metals, alloys, salts, polymers, and plastics. Most elements crystallize as metals. Some solids can also be frozen liquids. There is also an attraction among the molecules of a solid that holds them together. This attraction
may be strong or weak.
Some solids like rubber bands can return to their original size and shape after being stretched. This property is called elasticity. Some solids like sugar and coffee can be dissolved in water. This property is called solubility. Some solids like plates and cups are easily broken into pieces. This property is called brittleness.Some solids like sponge can absorb and hold water. This property is called porosity.

Liquids

The second state of matter is liquids. The bonding between the atoms of a liquid is loose, thus liquids do not have any definite shape or size and take the shape of their container. They can flow very easily. Most liquids are very good conductors and also good solvents. Liquids cannot be compressed easily. Some solids float in liquids depending on their density. If the solid is less dense than the liquid, it floats on the liquid’s surface. For example an egg normally sinks in water because it’s density is higher than water’s density. Some examples of liquids are water, soft drinks, and acid.

Gases

The third fundamental state of matter is Gas. Gases also do not have definite volume and shape. The bond between the atoms of gases is very loose, thus gas does not have any definite shape. The volume of the gas depends on the volume of the container it occupies as well as on factors like temperature and pressure. The particles in a gas are always moving fast in all directions. Some examples of gases are oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen.

Plasmas

Now, what happens when you raise the temperature to super-high levels, between 1000°C and  1,000,000,000°C? This leads to the formation of the 4th state of matter known as Plasma. If the gas is made up of particles which carry an electric charge (“ionized particles”), but the entire gas as a whole has no electric charge, and if the density is not too high, then we get the Plasma state of matter. Plasma is the ionization of gas at higher temperatures. Plasmas are super hot and super excited atoms. Some examples of Plasma are flames (fire), lightning, gases in fluorescent tube lights and neon lights, stars. Also, the sun is an example of a star in plasma state.

Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC)

Imagine what happens if you lower the temperature way, way, down to 100 nano degrees above “Absolute Zero” (-273°C)? Will the substance be just a frozen solid? The answer is no! It will be in the 5th state of matter, known as the Bose Einstein Condensate, named after two scientists, 

Albert Einstein and Satyendra Bose, who predicted a 5th state of matter which would occur at very very low temperatures. Bose-Einstein Condensates (BEC) are super cold and super unexcited atoms. This state of matter was discovered for the first time in 1995 by scientist Wolfgang Ketterle and his team of graduate students.