In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. After sufficient heating a gas dissociates its molecular bonds, rendering it into constituent atoms. However, further heating may also lead to ionization (a loss or gain of electrons) of the molecules or atoms of the gas, thus turning it into a plasma, containing charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons.[1]
The presence of a non-negligible number of charge carriers makes the plasma electrically conductive so that it responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. Plasma, therefore, has properties quite unlike those of solids, liquids, or gases and is considered a distinct state of matter. Like gas, plasma does not have a definite shape or a definite volume unless enclosed in a container; unlike gas, under the influence of a magnetic field, it may form structures such as filaments, beams and double layers. Some common plasmas are stars and neon signs. In the universe, plasma is the most common state of matter for ordinary matter, most of which is in the rarefied intergalactic plasma (particularly intracluster medium) and in stars.
States of matter are the distinct forms that different phases of matter take on. Solid, liquid and gas are the most common states of matter on Earth. However, much of the baryonic matter of universe is in the form of hot plasma, both as rarefied interstellar medium and as dense stars.
Historically, the distinction is made based on qualitative differences in bulk properties. Solid is the state in which matter maintains a fixed volume and shape; liquid is the state in which matter maintains a fixed volume but adapts to the shape of its container; and gas is the state in which matter expands to occupy whatever volume is available.

The state or phase of a given set of matter can change depending on