There are 3 states of matter – solid, liquid, gas. These states of matter occur naturally.
The fourth state of matter is called plasma. Plasma does not exist naturally and needs to be produced artificially from gases.
Gases are heated to a high temperature. The atoms and molecules, at this temperature, move at a great speed and collide with each other. In this process, the electrons are released from the atoms. Plasma contains negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions. Plasma can be referred to as hot ionized gas.
Plasma is similar to gas. It is a medium in which electrons travel. These electrons have a positive charge on them.
Shape
Solids have a definite shape.
Example: wood.
Liquid has the shape of the vessel which holds the liquid.
Example: water.
Gases lack shape. Gases need to be stored in a sealed vessel hence, takes the shape of the vessel.
Example: oxygen stored in an oxygen cylinder.
Plasma is similar to gas and hence, is stored in a sealed vessel. Thus, plasma takes the shape of the vessel in which it is stored.
Volume
Solids have a definite volume.
Liquids also have a definite volume.
Gases lack volume. Gas takes the volume of the vessel in which it is stored.
Example: oxygen has the volume of the cylinder in which it is stored.
Plasma also does not have a volume. Like gases, plasma also takes the volume of the vessel in which it is stored.
Conduction of heat
Solids are conductors of heat.
The molecules of a solid are conductors of heat hence, solid gets hot.
Example: wood gets heated up after some time when kept in sunlight.
Liquids conduct heat.
The molecules of a liquid are conductors of heat hence, it starts boiling.
Gases do conduct heat.
Plasma also conducts heat.
Plasma has thermal conductivity.
