Definition of plasma

The word "plasma" has its roots in ancient Greek. The Greek physician Galen (129-216 AD) used the term "plasmē" (πλάσμα) to describe a molded or formed substance. In the 17th century, the term was revived in chemistry by English chemist Sir George Kingston (1635-1713) to describe a liquid substance that retains its shape and volume, similar to a molded or formed substance. In the 19th century, the term "plasma" gained widespread use in physics and medicine to describe a high-temperature ionized gas, also known as plasma. The term was popularized by Irving Langmuir, an American chemist and Nobel laureate, who used it to describe the ionized gas surrounding the electrodes in an electrical discharge. Today, the term "plasma" is used in various fields, including physics, medicine, and biology, to describe a wide range of ionized gases and liquids that exhibit unique electrical and chemical properties.