We explain what the plasma state is and some of its properties. Also, the types of plasma that exist and examples.
What is plasma state or plasma?
A "plasma" is called a state of matter aggregation which can be understood as an ionized gas, that is, composed of atoms to which they have removed or added electrons and, therefore, they have a electric charge fixed (anions (-) and cations (+)). This makes plasma an excellent transmitter of the electricity.
On the other hand, plasma particles interact very strongly with electromagnetic fields. Because plasma has its own characteristics (which do not correspond to the solid, gases, neither liquids), it is said to be the fourth state of matter.
Plasma is not a common state in everyday life. It can be obtained through a process ionization of gases (sometimes as simple as heating them to make their particles vibrate faster). It can also be obtained by magnetization or by applying electricity, in addition to other artificial processes.
A plasma can be made to return to a gaseous state by any deionization process, for example, removing heat to the substance and allow its particles to recover their lost or gained electrons, giving stability and returning to be a deionized gas.
There are two types of plasmas:
- Cold plasma. It is the plasma in which temperature of electrons is higher than that of heavier particles, such as ions. This type of plasma is the least harmful to living beings, as it does not cause burns.
- Hot plasma. It is the plasma whose atoms ionized gases become extremely hot because they are continually colliding, generating light and heat and therefore could be dangerous to living things.
Examples of plasma or plasma status
Some examples of matter in the plasma state are:
- Sun. The star King is a great ball of gases in perpetual reaction. His reactions are very violent and his gravity it attracts its particles to its center, where they are compressed and reach the plasmatic state.
- The fire. It is a set of incandescent particles of a combustible nature, that is, they emit light and heat during a violent oxidation reaction. Fire is considered a hot plasma.
- Plasma lamps. The so-called "plasma balls" or "plasma spheres" are decorative or playful artifacts invented by Nikola Tesla in his experiments with high-frequency electricity. It is achieved with a mixture low gas Pressure into a transparent container, into which high-frequency and high-frequency electricity is injected voltage, achieving a electric field.
- Neon lights. Neon lamps or bulbs use this element (a Noble gas (Ne)) to achieve a bright and cold plasma, which is quite safe, not very reactive (since it is neon) and very functional.
- The Lightning.Fast and very hot (29,000 ºC), lightning is forms of plasma that arise in the atmosphere, when the gases in it are electrically charged during the hydrological cycle and thus generate a decompensation of the electromagnetic field, which through a violent discharge tries to restore the balance.