What Is Plasma (State of Matter)?

Quick Answer

Plasma is the fourth state of matter — an ionised gas where atoms have lost electrons, making it electrically conductive.

The Full Story

When a gas is heated to extremely high temperatures or exposed to a strong electromagnetic field, electrons are stripped from atoms, creating a soup of free ions and electrons. This is plasma. Unlike a regular gas, plasma responds to magnetic and electric fields and can conduct electricity. Plasma makes up over 99% of the visible universe: stars (including the Sun), lightning, the aurora borealis, and neon signs are all examples. On Earth, plasma is used in fusion reactors, plasma TVs, and industrial cutting torches.

Key Facts

1.The Sun is a giant ball of plasma with a core temperature of about 15 million °C.

2.Lightning creates a channel of plasma that can reach temperatures of 30,000 K — five times hotter than the Sun surface.

3.Fluorescent light bulbs work by passing electricity through a plasma of mercury vapour and noble gas.

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