Glass

Glass is a transparent and brittle amorphous solid material. Commercial glass is generally made from a molten mixture of sand, soda ash and lime. Glass is used for a variety of decorative and other purposes. Glass is commonly used for windows, holding liquids, spectacles and so much more. Glass made of silica based material is usually used for household articles like windows and light bulbs. Glass breaks into sharp shards under tension and can withstand immense force under compression. Glass can change in shape and colour or can be made flat or transparent. Sand is the major raw material of glass and the iron impurities in sand give it its green to bluish green colour.

Glass beads and crystals are popular in jewellery, clothing and footwear. By adding metallic compounds and mineral oxides to glass, glassmakers can make coloured glass in colours like red, green, and blue. Popular types of glass include Bohemian glass, stained glass and crystals, among others. Stained glass is particularly common in church windows. Other popular items made of glass include marbles, smoking pipes, paperweights, sculptures, bowls, bottles and vases. Glass architecture has become popular today and the different ways in which glass can be used for building homes include cylinder glass, sheet glass, polished plate glass, float glass, glass block and laminated glass, to name but a few.