States of Matter: Number & Properties

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The discussion centers on the classification of states of matter, highlighting the traditional four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Participants note that more complex materials, like toothpaste, challenge these categories, leading to the consideration of additional states such as Bose-Einstein Condensates, Fermionic Condensates, and quark-gluon plasma. The existence of exotic states like superfluids and dark matter is also mentioned, suggesting that many states remain undiscovered. There is a humorous take on the classification, with some suggesting a simplified view of matter as either existing or not. The conversation reflects an ongoing interest in the complexities of matter beyond conventional definitions.

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States Of Matter...

Just out of interest as I am compiling a list of the states of matter & their properties can someone please clear up the age old dispute;

How Many States Of Matter Are There?

If you could state the number with what (additional) states of matter, please list them and their properties.
 
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I don't think's a meaningful question anymore. Sure, simple materials (e.g. water) can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. But more complicated materials don't fall into any of those clean categories- what's toothpaste, for example? (It's a viscoelastic fluid/Bingham fluid)
 
There are two main states of matter, and then some derived ones:
- does matter
- doesn't matter

(and then, matters a bit, a lot)...

:biggrin: :smile: :blushing:
 
Matters generally divided into four categories; solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. That fourth category, plasma, is debated by some who claim that it is merely a special condition of the gaseous state.

The existence of neutron stars and the proposed existence of Quark stars, along with the discovery of BEC's (Bose-Einstein Condensates) suggest that there are many more states of matter of which we are not aware, simply because they do not concur in our everyday experience.
 
What About Bose-Einstein Condensate (First Observed in 1995)
or Liquid Crystal
or Fermionic Condensate
etc.
 
How does Planck matter grab ya? The false vacuum? Dark energy? Strings and branes?
 
I guess there are two states; one where it is matter and one where it is energy.

k
 


I will just list how much I know off the top of my head. There are solids, liquids, gases, plasma, Bose-Einstien Condensates, Fermionic Condensates, superfluids, beam, thought wave (is this real? I've never found proof), quark-gluon plasma, supersolids, string-net liquids, superglass, and dark matter. I'm not positive about these, so if I made any mistakes, please correct me.
 


WARLORDTF said:
Just out of interest as I am compiling a list of the states of matter & their properties can someone please clear up the age old dispute;

How Many States Of Matter Are There?

If you could state the number with what (additional) states of matter, please list them and their properties.

That's so awesome. When you are completed with this arduous task please forward a copy of it to me. I want to help, too. What's your email? Should I just post it up on megaupload or rapidshare or something?
 
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