This figure shows the four states of matter with water as the example material: solid (ice), liquid (water), gas (water vapor) and plasma (hydrogen nuclei and electrons).Stars are made of plasma, so plasma is the most abundant form of matter in the universe. The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/
Matter is Classified (divided) into FOUR STATES:
a. SOLID - Anything that has BOTH A DEFINITE VOLUME and a DEFINITE SHAPE. A rock is a solid, solid matter can be picked up and carried around without having to place it in a special container.
b. LIQUID - Anything that has DEFINITE VOLUME but NO DEFINITE SHAPE. A key property of a liquid is that they FLOW and can be POURED.
c. GAS - Has NO DEFINITE VOLUME and NO DEFINITE SHAPE. A gas ALWAYS TAKES BOTH THE VOLUME AND THE SHAPE OF ANY CONTAINER INTO WHICH IT IS PLACED. If a gas is NOT in a container, it will spread out as far as it can.
d. PLASMA - Has NO DEFINITE VOLUME OR SHAPE AND IS COMPOSED OF ELECTRICAL CHARGED PARTICLES.