Chain-melted state

The chain-melted state is a state of matter in which a substance, typically a metal, notably potassium, behaves both in the liquid and solid state at the same time.[1] This is done by applying extreme pressure and temperature, causing the metal to become solid and molten simultaneously.[2] It was confirmed to be a state of matter in 2019 by a group of researchers at the University of Edinburgh using artificial intelligence to analyse the results of subjecting potassium to high temperatures and pressure, when the potassium began exhibiting properties where it was apparently both solid and liquid.[3] The phenomenon was observed by a group of other researchers in 2014; however, it was only thought to be a transitioning state.[4] The chain-melted state has also been observed in other elements, such as sodium and rubidium.[5] Some other elements, like bismuth, are also capable of being in the chain-melted state.[6]

  1. ^ Starr, Michelle (2019-04-09). "A New 'State' of Matter Can Be Solid And Liquid at The Same Time". ScienceAlert. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  2. ^ Talukdar, Sandipan (2019-04-20). "Chain-Melted State: The Strange State of Matter". NewsClick.in. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  3. ^ Mann, Adam (8 April 2019). "Confirmed: New phase of matter is solid and liquid at same time". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on April 14, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
  4. ^ McBride, E. E.; Munro, K. A.; Stinton, G. W.; Husband, R. J.; Briggs, R.; Liermann, H.-P.; McMahon, M. I. (2015-04-22). "One-dimensional chain melting in incommensurate potassium". Physical Review B. 91 (14): 144111. arXiv:1504.02895. Bibcode:2015PhRvB..91n4111M. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.91.144111. S2CID 4989803.
  5. ^ Naden Robinson, Victor; Zong, Hongxiang; Ackland, Graeme J.; Woolman, Gavin; Hermann, Andreas (2019-05-21). "On the chain-melted phase of matter". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (21): 10297–10302. Bibcode:2019PNAS..11610297N. doi:10.1073/pnas.1900985116. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 6535020. PMID 30975752.
  6. ^ "Elements can be solid and liquid at the same time". The University of Edinburgh. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2023-10-31.