What are the 6th and 7th states of matter?

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter ananthan345
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Matter States
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the identification and explanation of the 6th and 7th states of matter, with participants exploring various definitions and classifications of states of matter, including theoretical and experimental perspectives.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the classification of states of matter can vary, with superfluids and liquids potentially being considered the same or different states.
  • One participant lists the known states of matter as solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and Bose-Einstein Condensate, expressing skepticism about superfluid being a distinct state.
  • A participant introduces the concept of Rydberg-matter as a hypothesized state, describing it as an arrangement of highly-excited atoms.
  • Another participant notes that the term "phase" could be more appropriate, as there are many phases within solids and liquids, suggesting that the number of states could exceed seven.
  • Some participants propose that the 6th and 7th states might refer to superfluids and quark-gluon plasmas, but emphasize that definitions are crucial to determining the number of states.
  • A later reply challenges the classification of superfluid as a state, suggesting it is more of a combination of existing states.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the definitions and classifications of the 6th and 7th states of matter, with multiple competing views and uncertainties expressed throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the ambiguity in defining "state" versus "phase," and the implications of these definitions on the classification of matter. There are also references to theoretical states that may not have been conclusively demonstrated.

ananthan345
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
hello friends,

Many of my friends tell me that there are 7 states of matter.Could anyone explain the 6th and 7th for me?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
well I believe it depends, ie some conisider a superfluid and a liquid the same state of matter where another person may consider them different states of matter, just like plasmas and gasses
 
ananthan345 said:
hello friends,

Many of my friends tell me that there are 7 states of matter.Could anyone explain the 6th and 7th for me?

I can come up with liquid, solid, gas, plasma and Bose-Einstein Condensate. I wouldn't consider superfluid to be a state of matter, because it is a mixture of a normal liquid and a BEC. There is another state of matter which has been hypothesized, but I don't think has been conclusively demonstrated to exist. It is called Rydberg-matter (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rydberg_matter), and consists of a regular array of Rydberg atoms, which are atoms where one of the electrons is in a very highly-excited state, so that the atom can be considered as a loose ion-electron pair.

I have no idea what the seventh state might be.
 
Last edited:
It may depend on how the "state" is defined.
Using the more specific term of "phase", as in phase transitions, there are many more than 7.
A solid can have several crystal phases, with well defined phase transitions.
Some materials have one (ore more) liquid crystal phase (or "state"?) between crystal and liquid. Actually there are many different liquid crystal phases.
 
ananthan345 said:
hello friends,

Many of my friends tell me that there are 7 states of matter.Could anyone explain the 6th and 7th for me?
Maybe you should ask whoever told you that?!
 
I would say they probably mean Superfluids and Quark-Gluon Plasmas.

But as has been pointed out, the exact number depends on how you define a state of matter.

Claude.
 
The 6th matter shouldnot be considered as a electronic configurated pair of a liquid and a BEC making it just like in terms of normal sane beings as super liquid
 

Similar threads

High School States of matter: "viscoelastic fluid", familiar term is "cream"
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
948
Undergrad What is the smallest possible state change in the Universe?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School States of Matter: 3 vs 5? School Help
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Undergrad Can red blood cells be considered colloids? (soft matter physics)
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K
Physics Questions by a First Year UofToronto Physics Student on Grad Admissions
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
5K
Shout out to my HS Science teacher from 10 years ago
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
What are some potential aerospace and defense R&D projects for 7th graders?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Where Does the 7th s Sublevel Go?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
High School What is "motion theory?"
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
565
Classical Which Physics Book Should High School Student Buy?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K