metastable

(adjective)

Of or pertaining to a physical or chemical state that is relatively long-lived, but may decay to a lower energy state when perturbed.

Related Terms

Examples of metastable in the following topics:

  • Gamma Decay

    • In certain cases, the excited nuclear state following the emission of a beta particle may be more stable than average; in these cases it is termed a metastable excited state if its decay is 100 to 1000 times longer than the average $10^{-12}$ seconds.
    • The process of isomeric transition is therefore similar to any gamma emission; it differs only in that it involves the intermediate metastable excited states of the nuclei.

  • Peptide Bonding between Amino Acids

    • The peptide bonds of proteins are metastable, and will break spontaneously in a slow process.

  • Odd-Electron Molecules

    • These latter compounds are said to be 'metastable,' meaning they will decompose or react if given enough time, but are stable enough for a considerable amount of time, from days to even years, when subjected to only minor disturbances.

  • Molecular Crystals

    • Similarly, yellow arsenic is a molecular solid composed of As4 units; it is metastable and gradually transforms into gray arsenic upon heating or illumination.

  • Carbon Oxides and Carbonates

    • Many other stable and metastable oxides of carbon are known but are rarely encountered.