Lead Glass

Lead glass

Lead glass, commonly called crystal, is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass typically contains 18–40% lead(II) oxide (PbO); modern lead crystal or leaded crystal contains a minimum of 24% PbO. Lead glass is desirable for a variety of uses because of its clarity. In marketing terms it is often called crystal glass.

Lead

Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal, denser than most common materials. Lead is soft, malleable, and has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cut or melted, it appears shiny silvery with a bluish tint, but tarnishes to dull gray on exposure to air. Lead has the highest atomic number of any stable element, and three of its isotopes are endpoints of major nuclear decay chains of heavier elements.

Glass

Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline) solid. Because it is often transparent and chemically inert, glass has found widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in window panes, tableware, and optics. Some common objects made of glass are named after the material, e.g., a "glass" for drinking, "glasses" for vision correction, and a "magnifying glass".

lead glass

Noun

1. Glass containing lead oxide, used for its high refractive index (often in cut glass) or for its ability to block ionizing radiation.