A gas is one of the four main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma), that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. Thus, as energy in the form of heat is added, a solid (e.g. ice) will first melt to become a liquid (e.g. water), which will then boil or evaporate to become a gas (e.g. water vapor). In some circumstances, a solid (e.g. "dry ice") can directly turn into a gas: this is called sublimation. If the gas is further heated, its atoms or molecules can become (wholly or partially) ionized, turning the gas into a plasma.

Physics

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In the gas phase, the atoms or molecules constituting the matter basically move independently, with no forces keeping them together or pushing them apart. Their only interactions are rare and random collisions. The particles move in random directions, at high speeds, whose range is dependent on the temperature and defined by the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. Therefore, the gas phase is a completely disordered state. Following the second law of thermodynamics, gas particles will immediately diffuse to homogeneously fill any shape or volume of space that is made available to them.

The thermodynamic state of a gas is characterized by its volume, its temperature, which is determined by the average velocity or kinetic energy of the molecules, and its pressure, which is determined by the average velocity and density or number of molecules. These variables are related by the fundamental gas laws, which state that the pressure in an ideal gas is proportional to its temperature and number of molecules, but inversely proportional to its volume.

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Wash Post Oil and Gas Prices

Inflation fears drive dollar dip
Steven Mufson Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Fears of inflation and large U.S. budget deficits drove the dollar on Wednesday to its weakest level since August 2008 and helped push oil prices to their highest in more than a year.
Oil Prices Up, but Future Direction Is Murky
Steven Mufson Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Crude oil prices climbed to $77.58 a barrel Thursday, driven by the weakening of the U.S. dollar and rising optimism about prospects for a global economic recovery.
Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative
Avis Thomas-Lester Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa and some of his eco-conscious friends in northern Prince George's County were concerned about the effect of greenhouse emissions on the environment, so they erected a granary to provide corn fuel as a home-heating alternative to natural gas, oil or electric heat.
Mount Rainier Residents Turn to Corn as a 'Greener' Fuel Alternative
Avis Thomas-Lester Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:17:04 -0400
Sat Jiwan Ikle-Khalsa and some of his eco-conscious friends in northern Prince George's County were concerned about the effect of greenhouse emissions on the environment, so they erected a granary to provide corn fuel as a home-heating alternative to natural gas, oil or electric heat.
Book Review: 'Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil' by Peter Maass
Steven Mufson Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Peter Maass takes readers on a vivid tour of troubled oil frontiers like Russia, Nigeria and Ecuador in "Crude World."
BP Finds 'Giant' Oil Source Deep Under Gulf of Mexico
Steven Mufson Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0400
BP said Wednesday that it made a "giant" oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico, and analysts said that the find deep below the sea floor raised hopes that further exploration in the region could help sustain U.S. offshore oil production.

Oil, Gas and Coal

UK: Friends of the Earth attacks carbon trading
The world's carbon trading markets growing complexity threatens another "sub-prime" style financial crisis that could again destabilise the global economy, campaigners warn. In a new report, Friends of the Earth says that to date "cap and trade" carbon markets have done little to reduce emissions but have been plagued by inefficiency and corruption.
Chevron Gets Fixed

FRANCE: French nuclear plant reveals plutonium level discrepancies
The French government has demanded answers from a nuclear research facility after nearly triple the registered amount of plutonium was discovered there during its dismantling this summer.
UK: Kingsnorth power station plans shelved by E.ON
E.ON, the German energy group, has effectively thrown in the towel on its plans to build a new coal-power station at Kingsnorth, UK, blaming the recession. Kingsnorth has been shrouded in controversy ever since inception, with protests over several years including a high-profile Climate Camp protest.
ECUADOR: Chevron Offers Evidence in Ecuador Bribery Case
On Monday Chevron said it gave Ecuadorean authorities evidence of a bribery scheme linked to a $27 billion environmental damages lawsuit against the oil company. Last week, the judge hearing the case, Juan Núñez, recused himself. The Amazon Defense Coalition said the recusal did not “change the overwhelming evidence against Chevron.”
Damming Magdalena: Emgesa Threatens Colombian Communities
Near the town of La Jagua, overlooking the Magdalena River, the landscape is dotted with concrete markers declaring the land, river, and everything else a “public utility” that Colombia has given to the energy company Emgesa as part of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project. A construction permit was granted in May, with the dam scheduled for full operation by 2014.

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