Define meta stable state

Answer 1

A meta stable state refers to a state of a system that appears stable or in equilibrium over a short period of time, despite not being in true equilibrium. This state is inherently unstable and can transition to a different state if a small perturbation or disturbance occurs. However, the system may remain in the meta stable state for a significant duration before transitioning. In physics and chemistry, meta stable states are commonly seen in systems with high activation energies or barriers preventing an immediate transition to the stable state.