Material phases

Materials have different states. The state of a material depends on the temperature. Let's start from coldest one and keep increasing temperature.

Solid: Solid is one of the three classical states of matter. Solid is the coldest state of material, Meaning the average kinetic energy of molecule is lowest in this state. It's property are rigidity in shape and volume. Reason being tightly compact molecules. Unlike fluid solid doesn't flow.

There are different kinds of solid which are crystalline and amorphous. Which are caused by alignment of molecules in solid.

When solid is heated it changes into liquid. Sometimes solid changes directly to gas while heating. This process is called Sublimation.






Liquid: Liquid is one of the three classical states of matter. Liquid is the warmer state of material than solid, Meaning the average kinetic energy of molecule is higher than of solid. It's property are rigidity in volume. But the shape of the liquid can change. It takes the shape of the container. Liquid and gas collectively are called fluid.

When solid is heated enough. Solid melts to form liquid. Liquid can be cooled to form solid.


Gas: Gas is one of the three classical states of matter. This is the hottest state of material among classical states. The volume and shape of gas can be changed. Gas are usually invisible. The void between molecules is so big that photos will not be reflected while passing through gas so we can't usually see them.

No gas exists at absolute zero temperature (-273.15C). When liquid is heated it boils and becomes gas. But even below boiling temperature a fraction of the liquid is always evaporating (turning to gas). Cooling gas changes it into liquid and than into solid.

Plasma: Plasma in not a classical state of material. It is a lot like gas so it used to classified as gas. But more accurately plasma is ionized gas. It's basic properties are same as gas but plasma is conductive while gas isn't. In electric and magnetic field plasma acts differently than gas. Although ignored for so long, plasma is the most common form of material in the universe.

When gas is heated high enough the atoms of gas looses electrons and the gas become ionized. Cooling will result in gas as expected.

 Although the material can have many different states, same material has same chemical properties. Only physical properties changes.