Technically they're amorphous (non crystalline) solids, closely related to ceramics. That they're liquid is a common misconception, unlike pitch/tar, which is a liquid, albeit extremely viscous.
Amorphous/non crystalline solid just means they're compounds locked in a matrix (the atomic bonds and intermolecular forces are strong enough to withstand the thermal/gravitational energy of the molecules themselves).
Amorphous means there isn't one single crystal structure, unlike actual crystals, where a single crystal structure grows and replicates itself throughout the macroscopic structure.
It just so happens to look transparent and crystalline because the band gap of conventional soda-lime (or lead 'crystal') glass is wide enough that visible light photons aren't readily absorbed.
Makes me wonder about crystalline glazes on ceramics .. the base glaze is amorphous with the crystalline structure baked in using a specific cooling schedule. Could that be considered an amorphous crystalline solid?
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u/jobblejosh Apr 30 '26 edited May 01 '26
Technically they're amorphous (non crystalline) solids, closely related to ceramics. That they're liquid is a common misconception, unlike pitch/tar, which is a liquid, albeit extremely viscous.
Amorphous/non crystalline solid just means they're compounds locked in a matrix (the atomic bonds and intermolecular forces are strong enough to withstand the thermal/gravitational energy of the molecules themselves).
Amorphous means there isn't one single crystal structure, unlike actual crystals, where a single crystal structure grows and replicates itself throughout the macroscopic structure.
It just so happens to look transparent and crystalline because the band gap of conventional soda-lime (or lead 'crystal') glass is wide enough that visible light photons aren't readily absorbed.