Plasma stage Vs. absolute zero?

In summary, as an atom reaches the plasma stage, its electrons go through different orbitals that consecutively get larger. When approaching absolute zero, the electrons will eventually reach the ground electronic state, which is the lowest energy state of the system. This happens at temperatures lower than 1000 K. Plasma is a state where electrons have enough energy to escape the atom, resulting in positively and negatively charged particles being free from each other.
  • #1
Yossarian
4
0
I know that when an atom reachs the plasma stage its electrons have gone through diffrent orbitals getting consecutivly larger.

I have a question about what happens as an atom approches absolute zero. as the atom gets colder do its electrons move into smaller orbitals until they crash into the nuculus or is there an orbital at which they stop?
 
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  • #2
At ordinary temperatures, you are looking at thermal energies measured in meV; energies necessary to move atoms/molecules from ground electronic states to excited states are measured in eV. Bottom line, "the orbital at which they stop" is called the "ground electronic state," it is reached when systems reach temperatures less than, oh what, let's say 1000 K, and there is no lower electronic state.

When cooling an atomic/molecular system from very high temperatures, the electronic ground state is the first to be reached, from that point you are reducing the translational, rotational, and vibrational quantum numbers to their ground state as you approach 0 K.
 
  • #3
Am I wrong in thinking that plasma is a state in which the electrons have been sheared off the atom, there by having Positively charged and negitivly charged particle free from each other?[?]
 
  • #4
no your right the plasma stage is where the electrons have enough energy to excape the atom thus creating a field of elecrons and separated nuculuses
 

Question 1: What is the difference between the plasma stage and absolute zero?

The plasma stage and absolute zero are two distinct states of matter. The plasma stage is a highly energized state in which particles are stripped of their electrons, resulting in a gas-like state. Absolute zero, on the other hand, is the lowest possible temperature where all thermal motion of particles stops. This means that there is no kinetic energy present in the particles at absolute zero, unlike in the plasma stage where particles have high amounts of kinetic energy.

Question 2: How is plasma created?

Plasma is created when a gas is heated to extremely high temperatures, causing the atoms to lose their electrons and become ionized. This can occur naturally in phenomena such as lightning or in controlled environments such as plasma TVs or fusion reactors.

Question 3: What happens to matter at absolute zero?

At absolute zero, matter undergoes a phase transition and becomes a solid. This is because all thermal energy is removed from the particles, causing them to stop moving and become tightly packed together, forming a solid structure.

Question 4: What are the practical applications of plasma?

Plasma has many practical applications in various industries. Some examples include plasma cutting for metalwork, plasma cleaning for surface treatments, and plasma propulsion for space travel. Plasma is also used in medical treatments, such as in plasma sterilization to kill bacteria and viruses.

Question 5: Can absolute zero ever be reached?

No, absolute zero is a theoretical concept and cannot be reached in reality. As temperature approaches absolute zero, the particles' energy levels decrease, but they can never reach zero. This is due to the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, which states that there is always a minimum amount of energy present in a system, even at absolute zero.

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