if lava starts flowing from a volcano into an ocean, how many states of matter happen and what are they
It starts as a liquid, and turns to a solid. The water heats to steam, a gas.
When lava flows from a volcano into an ocean, we can observe three different states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Let's break it down:
1. Solid state: At the core of a volcano, there is a molten rock called magma. Magma is in a solid state because it is composed of minerals and rocks in a highly heated and pressurized environment underground.
2. Liquid state: When a volcano erupts, it releases pressure, causing the magma to rise to the surface. Magma that reaches the surface is now known as lava. Lava is in a liquid state as it flows down the slopes of the volcano or into the ocean. It retains high temperatures, glowing and flowing due to its viscosity.
3. Gas state: As lava reaches the ocean, it rapidly cools down. The extreme heat of the lava causes the seawater to vaporize, transforming the liquid into gas. The intense heat turns the seawater into steam, which rises into the air as water vapor. The water vapor mixes with other gases present in the volcanic gases and the atmosphere.
Therefore, the states of matter involved in the scenario are: solid (magma), liquid (lava), and gas (steam/water vapor).