Question

Which of the following statements are true for different types of glasses:

• A. Silica glass is used in laboratory glass wares.
• B. Borosilicate glass is used to make light bulbs.
• C. Medicine bottles is made using lead glass.
• D. Optical glass is used to make microscope lens.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (D)

The correct options are
A Silica glass is used in laboratory glass wares.
D Optical glass is used to make microscope lens.

Glasses are catergorised into different types based on the components used for manufacturing them. Due to the presence of different raw materials, different types of glass exhibit different properties and thus can be used in different applications.
$$\begin{array}{ccc}\text{Type of Glass}& \text{Properties}& \text{Applications (in manufacturing)}\\ \text{Silica glass}& \text{Unreactive towards}& \\ & \text{acids \& alkalies}& \text{Laboratory glass wares}\\ \text{Borosilicate}& & \\ \text{glass}& \text{Durable and resistant}& \text{Pharmaceutical industry}\\ & \text{to chemical change}& \text{to store medicines}\\ \text{Lead glass}& \text{Very clear and transparent}& \text{Light bulbs and tubes}\\ \text{Optical glass}& \text{Soft \& transparent}& \text{Spectacles, lenses}\\ & & \text{\&}\\ & & \text{microscopic lenses}\end{array}$$
Borosilicate glass is costly due to its superior quality. Thus, it is not used in light bulbs.

The major disadvantages of lead glass is that it is brittle and lead has severe health hazards. Considering these factors, lead glass is not preferred to make medicine bottles.