2006-07-04 07:04:25 · 13 answers · asked by daveheez 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Aluminum foil makes pretty poor windows. Casseroles always leak when you bake them in cardboard crock-pots. The mercury always spills out and poisons people when you make thermometers out of pastry. And it's right tough trying see out of spectacles made of hamburger meat.
2006-07-04 07:10:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 3⤋
If not for glass, wonderful glass...
- we would not have windows to look out of on rainy days.
- we would not know the true colour of Coca Cola as we drink it from an opaque mug.
- beer would not be served in a frosted glass mug, just a cold ceramic mug.
- spectacles would have been invented.
- fish tanks would have to be opaque and made of a material that is opaque. We would not be able to see our cute little fish swimming, from the side of the tank...
Nowadays, however, glass is not a necessity as a container, spectacles... with the evolution of plastic.
2006-07-04 21:10:27 · answer #2 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glass a a container material is slowly disappearing. Has been for decades now, and maybe in a hundred years will be completely absent from the container business.
2006-07-04 07:11:08 · answer #3 · answered by none2perdy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Glass is relatively cheap, amorphous, doesnt absorb visible light, and more important than anything its very versatile!
You can add impurities to give the glass many different properties.
From extra hardness/ low thermal expansion (boron) to glowing green (uranium oxide)
to clear color (manganese)
to any color you want (different transition metals)
Its pretty unreactive except for a couple things.
Some silicates can react with hydrofluoric acid and alkali metal hydroxides.
2006-07-04 08:43:18 · answer #4 · answered by Richardicus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to track down the Glass issue of National Geographic, it's amazing stuff.
2006-07-04 07:09:22 · answer #5 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My local glazers has a news article on the wall, it basically says that if glass were invented today, then it would be banned from being used due to health and safety issues.
2006-07-04 07:11:32 · answer #6 · answered by spiegy2000 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't react with acid.
If it did could you imagine carrying the acid around in another vessel like in a hand bag, a pizza box or dare I say it......in the front trouser pocket.
Thank god for glass that's what I say.
2006-07-04 07:14:54 · answer #7 · answered by loki_mcbedlam 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can see through it really nicely
it's as strong and light as aluminium alloy (like what your bike is made of)
it's chemically inert, nothing attacks it
it's hard, doesn't wear too easily
you can make it out of cheap crap
it's good for things that have to be clean because it doesn't tend to get little scratches etc for bugs to hide in
you can put it in an autoclave
2006-07-04 07:08:20 · answer #8 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I must correct loki_macbedlam: glass does react with Hydrofluoric acid
2006-07-04 20:28:50 · answer #9 · answered by cogent 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks...now I know how to annoy cyclists who ride without lights at night on any road or pavement......
2006-07-04 09:20:12 · answer #10 · answered by johncob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋