4th state of matter???

Plasma is the fourth state of matter. This is basically gas particles that are ionized. This happens when the temperature goes up, the atoms collide knocking out the electrons which creates free and excited (high energy) electrons. This temperature is reached by the stars. Therefore stars are surrounded and made by plasma making it the largest amount of matter in the universe which is 99%of the whole universe. Plasma can be classified thermal or non thermal. Thermal plasma have the same high temperature, which means they are in thermal equilibrium with each other. In  non thermal plasma the heavy particles have much lower temperature as low as the room temperature, however, the electron has very high temperature. Plasma also has a magnetic field and is highly conductive to electricity. Plasma is all around us such as lightning, fire, citrus in a microwave. :-)

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