An interpretation of glass chemistry in terms of the optical basicity concept

The basicity of an oxide glass can be measured experimentally from the frequency shifts in the ultra-violet (UV) (s-p) spectra of probe ions such as Pb2+ and can be expressed on the numerical scale of optical basicity Λ (ideally Λ lies between zero and unity). It is possible to relate Λ with (i) the constitution, and (ii) the electronegativity of the cations (e.g. Na+, Si4+, etc.) of the glass, and the relationship allows microscopic optical basicities λ to be assigned to individual oxides and oxy-groups in the glass. These microscopic optical basicities are used for interpreting various aspects of the physics and chemistry of glass including refractivity, network coordination number changes, chemical durability, the glass electrode, UV transparency and the host behaviour of glass towards metal ions generally. Changes in glass basicity in going from one alkali metal oxide to another are also discussed. Finally, the concept of optical basicity, both as an experimentally obtained quantity and as a number calculated from glass constitution and electronegativity, is discussed in relation to the traditional approach to acid-base behaviour in glass.