Editing State of matter (section)

===Liquid crystal states===
{{Main|Liquid crystal}}

Liquid crystal states have properties intermediate between mobile liquids and ordered solids. Generally, they are able to flow like a liquid but exhibit long-range order. For example, the [[nematic phase]] consists of long rod-like molecules such as [[para-azoxyanisole]], which is nematic in the temperature range {{convert|118–136|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Phase Transitions of Liquid Crystal PAA in Confined Geometries|author=Shao, Y.|author2=Zerda, T.W.|journal=Journal of Physical Chemistry B|date=1998|volume=102|issue=18|pages=3387–3394|doi=10.1021/jp9734437}}</ref> In this state the molecules flow as in a liquid, but they all point in the same direction (within each domain) and cannot rotate freely. Like a crystalline solid, but unlike a liquid, liquid crystals react to polarized light.

Other types of liquid crystals are described in the main article on these states. Several types have technological importance, for example, in [[liquid crystal display]]s.