What materials are used to create soda-lime glass?

Soda-lime glass is primarily made from a combination of silica (sand), sodium carbonate (soda), and limestone (calcium carbonate).

Silica serves as the main component, providing the glass with its structure and strength. Sodium carbonate acts as a flux, lowering the melting temperature of the silica, which makes the melting process more energy-efficient during glass production. Limestone is included to help stabilize the glass and prevent it from dissolving in water. This combination of materials makes soda-lime glass the most common type of glass used in everyday applications, such as bottles and window panes, due to its advantageous properties and cost-effectiveness.

In contrast, other options describe different types of materials or compositions that do not align with the standard recipe for soda-lime glass. For instance, boron trioxide and potassium nitrate are materials used in borosilicate glass, which is known for its thermal resistance. Such nuanced differences highlight the importance of understanding the specific components used in glass types to successfully identify the correct answer.