What type of matter is fire?

Teaching Science lesson in my class is such a fantastic experience. There is always great moment in each meeting.

This week, we discussed about matters and their physical changes. Surprisingly, one of my students, Valerian, came up with a question "What type of matter is fire? Is it a matter of solid, gas or liquid?"

I think there are more curious children out there who have this kind of question in their mind. Hopefully, this will help. 

Well...
 

Matter occurs in four states: solids, liquids, gases, and plasma. . 

Solids

• A solid has a definite shape and volume.
• Examples of solids include ice (solid water), a bar of steel, and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide). 

Liquids

• A liquid has a definite volume, but takes the shape of its container.
• Examples of liquids include water and oil.

Gases

• A gas has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
• Examples of gases are air, oxygen, and helium.

Some introductory chemistry texts name solids, liquids, and gases as the three states of matter, but higher level texts recognize plasma as a fourth state of matter.

Plasma

• Plasma has neither a definite volume nor a definite shape.
• Plasma often is seen in ionized gases. Plasma is distinct from a gas because it possesses unique properties. Free electrical charges (not bound to atoms or ions) cause plasma to be electrically conductive. Plasma may be formed by heating and ionizing a gas.
• Stars are made of plasma. Lightning is plasma. You can find plasma inside fluorescent lights and neon signs.

So, What is the State of Matter of Fire or Flame? Is it a Liquid, Solid, Gas or Plasma?

For the most part, fire is a mixture of hot gases. Flames are the result of a chemical reaction, primarily between oxygen in air and a fuel, such as wood or propane. In addition to other products, the reaction produces carbon dioxide, steam, light, and heat. If the flame is hot enough, the gases are ionized and become yet another state of matter: plasma.