UNBREAKABLE BEAKERS
Borosilicate was invented in 1887 by German scientist Otto Schott
Unlike typical glassware, classroom beakers are typically made from a robust material called borosilicate glass. Boron oxide, silica, alumina and sodium oxide are combined to make the glass and give it unique qualities. Most importantly, it’s resistant to breakage when exposed to heat. Everyday glass – the type used in milk or soda bottles – tends to expand and crack when heated to between 150 and 200 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, borosilicate has what’s known as a low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning that its molecular structure is so robust that extreme heat can’t pull the molecules apart as easily. It takes heat up to 525 degrees Celsius before the glass begins to soften and up to 860 degrees Celsius before it melts into a liquid. By comparison, lava flows at around 700 degrees Celsius.