Plasma Status Example

After the Solid, Liquid and Gaseous States, the Plasma State is considered the Fourth state of matter. It has its majority manifestation in the Universe, conforming to the Stars, like our Sun.

The Plasma State is a gas that has reached a temperature such that the electrons that make up its atoms escape the forces that held them near the nucleus. This definition is equivalent to the gas ionizing in this condition. So it is a state composed of nuclei and electrons of the element.

Characteristics of the Plasma State

As it is a species with the presence of ions, it is capable of conducting electric current, and Coulomb's Law of Forces between electric charges is applied. The electric charges would be distributed among individual electrons, cations, and cations that have taken up excess electrons and therefore have a negative charge. The fact that the sets of negative charges are neutralized by the positive ones, assigns to the Plasma the quality of Quasi-neutrality.

Like the gaseous state, plasma does not have a definite shape, unless it is placed inside a container. However, if a magnetic field is approached, it is possible to form structures with the fluid.

Types of Plasma

Common plasma: It has the previously specified characteristics, some electrons escape from their shells in the atoms, so it has an electric and magnetic field.

Thermonuclear plasma: Present in the composition of the stars; it is in such a state that all the electrons have evacuated the atoms, and only the wandering nuclei are found among the other species.

Nucleonic plasma: In this grade of Plasma, the atomic nuclei have also been disintegrated, giving rise to a total mixture of electrons, protons and neutrons. It is on the periphery of a Supernova explosion.

Quarks-Gluons Plasma: At this level, nucleons have already been divided into their components, Quarks and Gluons. It is the most primitive state of matter, which took place in the first infinitesimal instant of the beginning of the universe.

Examples of the Plasma State

The composition of the Sun, a plasma of Hydrogen and Helium.

Lightning generated during a thunderstorm.

The content of Noble Gas lamps, such as Neon, activated with electric current.

The Aurora Borealis, which occurs in the ionosphere, between 100 and 300 km from the earth's surface. It is also where the resonance of the Ozone molecules occurs, which protect us from the Ultraviolet radiation that comes from the Sun.

The matter that circulates on an interplanetary level.

The nebulae present in galactic systems.