Glass is transparent because its molecular structure allows visible light photons to pass through without significant absorption or scattering. Unlike metals, glass lacks free electrons that would absorb and re-emit light energy. The silicon dioxide molecules in glass form an amorphous (non-crystalline) structure that creates few boundaries to interfere with light transmission. Additionally, the energy gaps in glass’s electron configuration don’t correspond to visible light wavelengths, preventing absorption that would make it opaque. This unique molecular arrangement explains why glass absorbs very little energy from visible light, allowing photons to maintain their path and energy levels as they travel through the material, resulting in the transparency we perceive.
