eli5: Why does sand which is a bunch of tiny rocks, turn into glass, but we can’t turn big rocks into glass?

Question

I’m very tired. Please help me understand this.

In: Other

Answer 1

We can, it’s just a lot easier to control the process if we use lots of tiny rocks rather than one large one. To make glass that is useful (ie transparent and with the right properties), we need to use ingredients of exactly the right kind, and not all rocks, nor all sand, is suitable. It is easier with sand to make sure what you are putting into the mixture to make the glass is going to have the right composition to get the kind of glass you want out of it.