Ceramics, Glass and Composites
Ceramics and glass are made from non-metal compounds heated to high temperatures, and composites combine materials to get better properties.
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Ceramics and glass are made from non-metal compounds heated to high temperatures, and composites combine materials to get better properties.
- Glass is made from sand
- Concrete is a composite
- Carbon fibre is strong and light
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Ceramics, Glass and Composites?
Within Chemistry, which covers atoms, bonding, reactions, the periodic table, organic chemistry and the chemistry of everyday life, this topic explains Ceramics, Glass and Composites. Chemistry links what you can see in the lab to the particles and bonds behind it, so each topic here shows that link in a model.
Check that you can explain Ceramics, Glass and Composites in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Ceramics, Glass and Composites helps you explain why substances behave as they do, from cleaning products and food to medicines.
Ceramics, Glass and Composites in detail
Ceramics, such as pottery, bricks and porcelain, are made by heating clay and other materials to high temperatures. They are hard, brittle, heat-resistant and electrical insulators. Glass is made by heating sand, sodium carbonate and limestone; borosilicate glass resists heat and is used in laboratory equipment.
Composites combine two materials to get better properties, such as reinforced concrete (steel in concrete), fibreglass and carbon fibre. One acts as the matrix and the other as reinforcement. They are strong and lightweight, so they are used in aircraft, sports equipment and buildings.
How the interactive helps you understand Ceramics, Glass and Composites
Click a card to flip it and reveal the answer, then move on to the next one.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Ceramics, Glass and Composites.
Real-life uses and examples
- Explain Ceramics, Glass and Composites in an exam by linking the particles involved to what you observe.
- Use Ceramics, Glass and Composites to explain what happens in a lab experiment and why.
- Link Ceramics, Glass and Composites to everyday products such as cleaning agents, food and medicines.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up the names of substances or ions when you describe Ceramics, Glass and Composites.
- Describing what happens without explaining the particles or bonds involved.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Ceramics, Glass and Composites
What is Ceramics, Glass and Composites?
Ceramics and glass are made from non-metal compounds heated to high temperatures, and composites combine materials to get better properties.
What are the most important points about Ceramics, Glass and Composites?
The main points are: Glass is made from sand; Concrete is a composite; Carbon fibre is strong and light.
Why is Ceramics, Glass and Composites useful?
Understanding Ceramics, Glass and Composites helps you explain why substances behave as they do, from cleaning products and food to medicines.
How can I practise Ceramics, Glass and Composites?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Ceramics, Glass and Composites?
Related topics in Chemistry include Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Matter and Its Properties, Particle Theory.