Glass and ceramics are made from which mineral?

• A. Silica
• B. Gypsum
• C. Alumina
• D. Lime

Answer: (A)

Silica, or silicon dioxide, is the mineral that serves as the foundation for both glass and ceramics. Its structure forms a strong, three-dimensional silicon–oxygen network, which is what gives glass its rigidity and clarity and underpins the durability and heat resistance of ceramics. In glassmaking, silica provides the basic network that melts and then re-solidifies into a smooth, transparent material when cooled. In ceramics, silica is present in clay minerals and glazes, contributing to the hard, heat-tolerant properties of the final product. Gypsum is calcium sulfate used in plaster, alumina (aluminum oxide) is important in some ceramic formulations but not the primary mineral for glass, and lime is calcium oxide used as a flux or stabilizer, not the main mineral for glass or ceramics.