ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Soda–lime glass

Soda-lime glass is a special kind of glass that is used to make things like drinking glasses, windows, and even windshields for cars. It is made up of three main ingredients: soda, limestone, and sand.

The soda is a special kind of salt that helps the glass melt at a lower temperature, which makes it easier to make the glass and saves energy. The limestone helps to strengthen the glass so that it doesn't break easily, and the sand is what gives the glass its clear, transparent appearance.

To make soda-lime glass, the three ingredients are mixed together and heated up to a very high temperature until they melt and become a liquid. Then the liquid is shaped into the desired form using special molds or tools, and left to cool down and harden into its final solid form.

One of the cool things about soda-lime glass is that it can be easily recycled, which is important for the environment. When glass is recycled, it is melted down again and made into new products, which helps to save resources and reduce waste.

So next time you drink from a glass or look out a window, remember that it might be made from soda-lime glass, a special kind of glass that is strong, transparent, and can be recycled.
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