Here are 10 interesting facts about glass to enhance your knowledge of this everyday material:
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Glass is Made from Sand:
To produce glass, sand is mixed with lime and soda ash and heated at extremely high temperatures. After the liquid mixture cools back down, the result is glass. -
Adding Minerals to Glass Changes its Color:
Combining other minerals with the sand, lime, and soda ash can result in different colored glass. For example, adding nickel oxide to the mix produces violet glass. -
Glass Can Be Formed by Lightning:
Because of the high temperatures, glass can naturally form when sand is struck by lightning. -
When Glass Breaks, the Cracks Move at 3000 mph:
That’s five times faster than the average airplane, which travels at 575 mph! -
Glass Windows Were Invented in the 17th Century:
Before that, people made windows out of flattened animal horn. -
Glass is Not a Solid:
Despite what you may think, glass is not classified as a solid, liquid, or gas. When cooled, glass forms an “amorphous solid” that allows molecules within the glass to continue moving around. -
The “Portland Vase” is One of the Most Valuable Glass Art Pieces in the World:
Experts estimate that the Portland Vase was made sometime between AD 5 and AD 25 in Rome. The vase is currently in the British Museum, where it has been for over 200 years. -
Glass is 100% Recyclable:
Glass can be recycled endlessly without losing any quality or purity. -
Volcanic Lava Can Turn into Glass:
Obsidian, a type of natural glass, can form when hot lava cools quickly after being expelled from a volcano. -
Glass Can Take 1 Million Years to Decompose:
Durable and resilient, glass is one of the longest-lasting man-made materials.