Eli5: What are the other states of matter aside from solid, liquid and gas and why are they not being taught in schools?
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As the main questions have already been answered a historical comment: the four “elements” as described by ancient cultures correspond very well to the four common states of matter:
– Earth: solid
– Water: liquid
– Air: gas
– Fire: plasma
Hence not at least those four being taught in schools sounds almost silly.
It went by the way a bit further, e.g. in [Neo-Platonism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_element#Neo-Platonism). Some schools of thought also added a fifth element, sometimes aether, sometimes space or void.
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