Glass Categorization: Is it Natural, Metal, Ceramic, or Plastic?

  • Thread starter Thread starter sculduggery
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Glass
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the categorization of glass, specifically whether it should be classified as natural, metal, ceramic, or plastic. Participants explore the definitions and characteristics of glass in relation to these categories.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that glass should be categorized as a ceramic, arguing that there is no natural category for glass.
  • Another participant agrees with the ceramic classification, noting that while naturally occurring glasses exist, glass is not always natural.
  • A third participant mentions Obsidian as an example of a naturally occurring glass, reinforcing the idea that glass can be classified as ceramic.
  • Some participants acknowledge the existence of natural glasses like Opal but maintain that glass is fundamentally a ceramic material.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that glass is best categorized as a ceramic, but there is some contention regarding the classification of naturally occurring glasses and the definition of "natural."

Contextual Notes

Participants do not fully resolve the definitions of natural versus ceramic, and the discussion reflects varying interpretations of these categories.

sculduggery
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Me and my colleagues are in disagreement over a question that appears on a paper. The question is-To which category does glass belong? A) Natural B)Metals C)Ceramics or D) Plastics. Although I am aware that Sand and Silica are natural products and glass can be created when lightning strikes. I don't think glass is a natural as I don't think there is a natural category as such.I think it is a ceramic, Please could you tell me if I am correct or am way off the mark as usual.

Thanks in anticipation,
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Hello sculduggery & welcome to PF

If I was to choose from those categories, My choice would be Ceramics too.

It's true that there are a huge number of naturaly occurring Glasses but I wouldn't place glass under naturals because it's not neccessarily natural all the time :) But its always a ceramic if I my knowledge is correct. A very famous and pricy naturaly occurring glass is Opal (the gemstone) because its an amorphous SiO2 with high water content (5-10%).

Best Wishes
 
Thanks Panthera.

I have posted this on several forums and this is the only reply I have had, Sounds like a good answer too, Thanks again.

Robert
 
yeah glass is categorized as ceramic material, and yes ceramics also do occur naturally; look for Obsidian, a naturally occurring glass in volcanic eruptions.
but nevertheless its always a ceramic.
 
MalliCk said:
yeah glass is categorized as ceramic material, and yes ceramics also do occur naturally; look for Obsidian, a naturally occurring glass in volcanic eruptions.
but nevertheless its always a ceramic.

Thank you Mallick
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 36 ·
2
Replies
36
Views
5K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
29K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K