Eli5: What chemical or molecular properties of a material cause it to be transparent
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Great question.
Stuff is made of atoms – which have electrons in them. Electrons have different energy levels depending on the material and it’s temperature, etc.
As light is traveling around it hits things. If the energy level of the electron is close to the energy level of the light, it will interact with it, causing the material to absorb the energy.
If it is not, the light will pass through, making it transparent.
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