Plasma

Plasma is the 4th state of matter. The more known states of matter are solid, liquid and gas. Plasma is the next state. Plasma is actually a part of gas that has been ionized, causing plasma to have a balanced charge of ions and electrons. Because of plasma’s electrons, it made it conductive against electricity which then causes it to react strongly to electromagnetic fields. An experiment with the plasma ball could be done to prove that plasma reacts to electricity. When you place your finger on the plasma ball, the electric current flowing within it will pass through the glass and you will get an electric shock. This is because our body gives off a small electric charge and plasma reacts to electricity. Some examples of plasma is lightning and the sun.
Plasma was first found in a Crookes tube by Sir William Crooks. When he first found it, he named it “radiant matter”. It was later then dubbed “plasma” by Irving Langmuir. Plasma has about the same properties as compared to gas. It has indefinite shape and indefinite volume. The difference is that it contains ions and electrons and it is found at above 100,000 degree Celsius.
The change in state of matter, gas, to plasma is called ionization. This process also involves heat. The heat actually separates the electrons from the atom, leaving a positively charged ion. This is how heat does separate it. The electrons revolve around an atom and the centrifugal force pushes the electron away from the atom but there is the attraction between the negatively charged electron and the positively charged electron. When heat came in, it provided more energy for the atom, causing the electron to move more intensely, causing it to leave the atom, becoming plasma.
Plasma is a very useful state of matter. It could provide new manufacturing techniques such as to cut or melt or to chemically alter material with plasma. It could also be consumer products such as the fluorescent light and the plasma ball. It could also be a prospect of abundant energy such as the plasma rocket engine that runs on very simple fuel. It could also be a medical application to sterilizes and cauterizes.
In conclusion, plasma is a great discovery made as it has many great uses and it is another step into the fascinating and mysterious world of science.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29#Plasma_properties_and_parameters
http://sites.google.com/site/sed695b/projects/demonstration-equipment/plasma-lamp
http://www.plasmascience.net/tpu/ubiquitous.html
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00761.htm
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem07/chem07053.htm
http://www.doesgodexist.org/JanFeb98/PLASMAThe4thStateOfMatter.html
http://matthieu.lagouge.free.fr/microtechnology/dry_etch.html
makingthemodernworld.org.uk