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The States of Matter Completely Explained

Tap a state to see how its molecules behave.

Solid

Molecules are tightly packed in a fixed, orderly arrangement, vibrating in place but not moving freely, giving a solid a definite shape and volume that resists compression.

Liquid

Molecules are close together but able to move and slide past one another, giving a liquid a definite volume but no fixed shape, allowing it to flow and take the shape of its container.

Gas

Molecules are spread far apart and move freely and rapidly in all directions, giving a gas neither a fixed shape nor a fixed volume, allowing it to expand to fill any available space.

Plasma

An ionized gas-like state in which atoms have been stripped of some electrons, creating a mix of charged particles; it is considered the most common state of matter in the universe, found in stars and lightning.

Melting and Freezing

The transition between solid and liquid states, occurring when energy (heat) is added to break a solid's rigid molecular structure (melting), or removed to lock molecules back into a fixed arrangement (freezing).

Evaporation and Condensation

The transition between liquid and gas states, occurring when energy is added to free molecules from a liquid's loose structure entirely (evaporation), or removed to draw gas molecules back together into a liquid (condensation).

Why plasma is often left out of everyday discussions of matter

While solid, liquid, and gas are the three states most people encounter in daily life, plasma is actually the most abundant state of matter in the universe by far, since the sun and virtually all other stars are composed primarily of plasma β€” it simply doesn't occur naturally very often on Earth's surface under normal conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a substance skip directly from solid to gas without becoming a liquid first?

Yes β€” this process is called sublimation, and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) is a commonly cited everyday example, transitioning directly from a solid into a gas at normal atmospheric pressure without passing through a liquid phase.

Are there any states of matter beyond these four?

Yes β€” physicists have identified additional, more exotic states of matter under extreme laboratory conditions, such as Bose-Einstein condensates (formed at temperatures near absolute zero), though these are far less commonly discussed outside of specialized physics contexts.