Crystal. What is the difference from glass. A few tips: how to tell rhinestone from glass

17.06.2019

How to distinguish a product made of ordinary glass from a product made of crystal? First, let's try to figure out what each of these materials is.

Glass is, as a rule, an artificial material, because in nature it is formed extremely rarely, after such infrequent natural disasters as a volcanic eruption (volcanic glass) and a meteorite fall. In all other cases, the glass is of artificial origin.

Pure rock crystal is a type of colorless natural quartz in the shape of a hexagonal pyramid (icicle). Translated from the Greek "krystallos" - ice. Crystal originates in the cavities of rocks ("crystal cellars") and in the voids of lava deposits. But it also occurs in quartz veins ("crystal coffins"), limestone rocks and shale.

There is also the so-called artificial crystal - glass with the addition of lead in certain proportions. In each country, the permissible amount of lead, in order for glass to be called crystal, is different. In Europe, for example, no more than ten percent, in the United States - even one is enough. There are also definitions such as lead and high-lead crystal, which differ in the percentage of lead content.

How to distinguish glass from crystal not in laboratory conditions and without gemological equipment.

The most important difference lies in such a physical property as thermal conductivity. If you put your hand on the glass, it will quickly heat up and become warm. The crystal will remain cool no matter how long it is held in warm hands. In ancient Rome, the patricians even used crystal balls to cool their hands in the heat.

If you run wet fingers over the crystal surface, you will see a clear sound, reminiscent of ringing, but glass with such a "sound" will not work.

Crystal, even processed, is harder than glass. Therefore, various damages and scratches cannot be detected on it, even if it is scratched with a steel instrument. But on the other hand, it can easily leave a mark on the glass, even with a slight impact on the surface. It will take some effort to break the crystal.

But the presence of gaseous bubbles or foreign inclusions suggests that you have ordinary glass in front of you. Rock crystal, on the other hand, can include only cracks and turbidity.

During the production of glass, so-called streaks are formed in it - lines along which a viscous liquid substance flows. When light passes through the glass, these lines can be seen. You will not see these lines in the crystal.

Glass has a uniform thickness across its entire surface and therefore tends to slightly enlarge objects when looking through it. Looking through the crystal, no changes in the size and shape of things are noticed.

Rock crystal has such a property as a strong bifurcation. For example, if you take a crystal ball and put it on the edge of the sheet, the edge will split in two. This effect is definitely not achievable with this experiment with a glass ball.

Rock crystal has a high refractive index, due to which it differs from glass in its special shine in light and play of color.

There is one more important difference that the glass does not have - this is the "crystal" ringing. If you knock two pieces made of crystal against each other (these can be chandelier pendants or glasses), you will hear a transparent, ringing, long, growing resonant rumble, not characteristic of glass.

If, nevertheless, you have doubts, and it is necessary to establish the authenticity of the crystal, then it is better to resort to the help of an examination.

From a scientific point of view, crystal is glass with the addition of lead and potassium. It has purity and luster, the height of these indicators depends on the amount of lead. Purity, and with it the high cost of raw materials, increases with an increase in the percentage of metal. If the content of lead oxide in it is 16-23%, the raw material is called "lead crystal". All types of crystal are glass, but not every type of glass is crystal. Products with less than 4% lead are glass.

What is the difference between crystal and glass?

There are certain characteristics, the knowledge of which will help to find out whether an object is made of glass or crystal.

Sequencing:

1. Pick up a crystal object. Tap your finger gently and listen to the clear melody, observe the subtle vibration. Do the same with ordinary glass - a muffled sound will appear, which differs from the "crystal" one, the object does not produce vibration.

2. Look through crystal and glass against sunlight or bright light. Light passing through glass does not have the effect of refraction and shine. And what is the difference between crystal and glass? Produces a rainbow effect thanks to lead oxide particles.

3. Compare items of the same size by weight. Raise crystal and glass in your hand. Considering the weight, it's easy to say which is heavier. Lead oxide in crystal makes it heavier. This is how crystal differs from ordinary glass.

4. Pay attention to the intricate patterns of crystal products. Glass objects do not have cutouts, they are harder and more difficult to process. The presence of lead oxide in the crystal softens it, which makes it possible to embody decor of any complexity on products.

This is how crystal differs from glass.

Crystal glass

Due to its properties, this material is halfway between crystal and expensive glass. The difference between crystal and crystal glass is its high lead content. In glass production, part of the lead oxide is replaced with calcium, magnesium, barium or zinc oxide, and part of the potassium oxide is replaced with sodium oxide. According to Russian standards, it must contain at least 10% of lead oxide, barium or zinc, European standards allow 1-15% of these substances. The content of lead in such glass endows it with a shade of bluish whiteness, the luxury of a bright polished shine and the "ringing" of crystal. It is softer than usual glass, but harder than crystal. Rubbing and intensive washing will not injure him.

Its beauty and durability are as good as crystal, and its low price has increased its popularity. In Russia, similar products are produced at a plant in the city of Gus-Khrustalny.

How is it different from crystal?

Bohemian glassware is highly regarded. Fine workmanship and perfect design give them a special charm. Due to the high content of lead in the raw material, which adds transparency, purity and strength to it, Bohemian glass is considered crystal. Its production is limited to the territory of Bohemia, this is one of the western regions of the Czech Republic.

Bohemian glassware has a number of distinctive features.

Ringing... Melodic and long, deep, slightly metallic - the main sign of authenticity. It lasts no less than 4 seconds, "emerges from the depths and slowly subsides." Along with the sound, a slight vibration passes through the glass.

For the product to ring, it is necessary to place the object on a flat solid surface and:

iron the edge of the product with wet fingers (the method is applicable only for products with thin walls);
it is easy to hit with a crystal stick on the walls of the product;
gently knock one product against another.

Perfect cleanliness. Components in the composition of Bohemian glass: lead and barium oxides, calcium. They increase transparency, keeping it clean. The criteria for assessing purity are different for transparent and colored products.

Clear glass does not contain:

air bubbles;
inclusions;
muddy areas;
cracks on the surface;
mechanical defects.

The transparency is checked by looking at brightly lit surfaces through a glass: they should not fade.

Colored glass is not completely transparent, but it is “clean” and has no defects. It is bright and saturated without extraneous shades, and the permissible stains and overflows of the same color scale with the main tone.

Distinctive characteristics of Bohemian glass

Surface. It is perfectly smooth, without such defects as scratches, cracks, sagging, grains. This also applies to products with carvings or engravings. The lines of the drawing are clear, regular, without distortions, cracks and irregularities. And straight, even and thin edges add up to the correct ornament.

Play of light. Due to the high refractive index, the play of light is observed on both smooth and carved surfaces. The glass is checked under the influence of direct rays of the sun, which, decaying, play with rainbow reflections, touching the surface. Smooth products transmit light through and through, which "plays" on the edge, the connection of the leg. Carved - they mirror the glare with their edges, and the surface "flashes".

Shape and edge of products. The peculiarities of the technology will not allow creating products of intricate shape. It is always laconic and correct, and the variety of design is achieved through decorative techniques. The edge is important when assessing quality, it is always smooth, without chipping, protrusions, sagging. Despite being sharp and thin, the edges remain strong and secure.

Cabbage juice is a useful life-giving drink that can give our body a lot of necessary and useful substances. We will talk about what useful properties of cabbage juice exist, and how to drink it correctly, in our article. Cabbage is one of the most beneficial vegetable crops because it has very valuable properties. This product is tasty and nutritious, moreover, it is an affordable medicine that everyone can grow in their own garden. Many health problems can be eliminated by consuming cabbage. Although everyone knows that due to the fiber in cabbage, this vegetable is difficult to digest, causing gas. In order to avoid such problems, it is more useful to drink cabbage juice, getting the same beneficial substances contained in the vegetable.

Freshly squeezed cabbage juice contains vitamin C, which increases the body's resistance to infections. Scientists have calculated that in order to meet the daily requirement of our body for vitamin C, you can eat about 200 g of cabbage. In addition, the vegetable contains the vitamin K we need, which is responsible for the full formation of bones, as well as for blood clotting. There are B vitamins and a very rich set of minerals, including iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium and other elements, in the composition of cabbage, and accordingly cabbage juice.

What is very pleasant for people who are losing weight, cabbage juice is very low in calories (25 kcal per 100 ml). This is a diet drink that will help you lose weight. Cabbage juice has wound healing and hemostatic properties. It is used as an external one, for treating burns and wounds, and for oral administration (for treating ulcers). Effectively use fresh cabbage juice to treat gastritis and ulcers. The effect is due to the vitamin U contained in the juice. This vitamin helps in the regeneration of cells in the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. The juice is used to treat hemorrhoids, colitis and inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines, as well as bleeding gums.

Cabbage juice is used as an antimicrobial agent that can act on some pathogens of dangerous diseases, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Koch's bacillus and SARS. Cabbage juice is also used to treat bronchitis, in particular, it is able to thin and remove phlegm. For such treatment, it is recommended to take juice with honey to enhance the healing effect. Cabbage juice is also used to restore tooth enamel, improve the condition of nails, skin and hair. With diabetes mellitus, using cabbage juice can prevent the appearance of skin diseases.

Cabbage juice must be introduced into the diet of those who want to lose weight, due to its low calorie content and high biological activity. At the same time, cabbage juice can be saturated very quickly without getting extra calories, moreover, it prevents the conversion of carbohydrates into fat deposits. Cabbage juice is able to normalize the intestines, removing stagnant bile in the body, fights constipation and helps to remove harmful substances from the body.

Since the juice contains folic acid, which helps conception and full development of the fetus, it is useful for expectant mothers to drink it. The vitamins and minerals contained in the juice protect against infections and colds.

When using cabbage juice, you should follow the rules. The juice has contraindications and limitations. The drink is able to dissolve and decompose toxins accumulated in the body, causing strong gas formation in the intestines, so you can drink it no more than three glasses a day. It is worth starting to use, starting with one and a half glasses. For the reasons listed above, cabbage juice is not recommended in the postoperative period if operations were performed in the abdominal cavity, and during breastfeeding, with gastritis with high acidity, with kidney disease and problems with the pancreas.

The world in which we live often affects the state of our nervous system, as it is full of various stressful situations, chronic fatigue and systematic stress. However, the nervous system should be constantly monitored and not overstrained. To do this, it is necessary to streamline everyday worries, for which to create and adhere to the correct daily routine, if necessary, attend a course of psychotherapy, yoga, auto-training and other events. But the easiest way to relax is a simple cup of herbal tea, aromatic and warm. Evening tea is an excellent natural calming agent that gently affects the nerves exhausted during the day. Teas, which relax the nervous system, help to level irritability, nervous exhaustion and relax before going to bed, fighting insomnia. We will talk about how tea calms the nervous system in our article.

Herbal tea

To prepare this wonderful tea, you should take in equal proportions such plants as St. John's wort, peppermint, chamomile and hawthorn flowers. Grind the ingredients, then st. l. pour the mixture into boiling water in a cup, and leave for 30 minutes, covered with a lid. Strain the cooled infusion and add a small amount of honey to it. Drink asleep. This tea will easily calm the nerves, but it is recommended to drink it for no more than two months.

Lime tea

To make tea, mix the flowers of dry linden and lemon balm in equal parts, pour the mixture with a glass of warm water, and boil for about five minutes. The broth is infused for 15 minutes, filtered, a spoonful of honey is added and taken for tea. If this tea is taken regularly, the nervous system will react more calmly to various irritants of an unpleasant nature.

Motherwort mint tea

Mix chamomile and motherwort herb 10 g each, add 20 g chopped mint, lime blossom, lemon balm and dried strawberries. Three tablespoons of the mixture must be poured into 1 liter of boiling water and insisted for up to 12 minutes. You need to drink the infusion during the day, add a little jam or honey if desired. Such an infusion is intended not to completely suppress the nervous system, but only to gently calm it down. Such tea should be drunk for a long time, without the risk of adverse reactions that are harmful to health.

Simple teas soothing

Mix 50 g of hop cones and valerian roots, then boil a dessert spoon of the mixture with boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, filter. Drink throughout the day in small portions. It is better to drink a whole glass of this tea at night. The remedy quite quickly soothes the nerves and helps in the fight against insomnia.

In equal parts, mix peppermint herb and valerian roots, then pour boiling water over a dessert spoon of this mixture, leave for half an hour and filter. We drink this tea in the morning and in the evening for half a glass. To enhance the effect, it is recommended to add a little anise or dill.

Melissa, valerian root and motherwort are taken in equal proportions and brewed in a cup. Then they insist and filter. You need to drink tea before meals on a dessert spoon.

Drinking half a cup of tea before meals, prepared according to the recipe below, can calm the nerves and improve digestion. To prepare it, place 1 tsp in a half-liter jar. motherwort, hop cones and green tea, pour boiling water over, leave for 12 minutes, drain. Add honey to taste.

Sophisticated soothing teas

Mix in equal proportions peppermint, oregano, St. John's wort and chamomile. Then we brew a dessert spoon of the collection in a cup, insist, filter and add honey. Drink this tea by a glass in the morning and before bedtime.

Stir in equal proportions peppermint, valerian root, hop cones, motherwort and ground rose hips. A tablespoon of the mixture should be brewed in the form of tea, infused and filtered. This sedative should be drunk throughout the day.

Soothing teas for children

To prepare baby tea soothing tea, you need to mix chamomile flowers, peppermint and fennel in equal parts. Then pour boiling water over a dessert spoon of the collection and hold on a steam bath for about 20 minutes, drain. This tea is recommended to be given to young children in the evening before going to bed on a teaspoon, as it can calm, relax, normalize the healthy alternation of sleep and wakefulness.

The teas described in our article can calm the nervous system and normalize blood pressure. Drinking tea every day helps to improve sleep and skin condition. The medicinal herbs in these teas help eliminate dark circles under the eyes, improve vision, and improve the functioning of the stomach and intestines.

Previously, people could not imagine that a person's breakfast could consist of various crispy balls with dried fruits, cereals and milk. But these days, such food does not surprise anyone, because such a breakfast is very tasty, and besides, it is easy to prepare. However, such food opens up a lot of controversy and discussion, since it is important for people to know what are the benefits and harms of cereal for human health. The very concept of dry food appeared in 1863, and was introduced by James Jackson. The first meal was compressed bran. Even though it wasn't very tasty, it was healthy food. The Kellogg brothers supported the idea of dry food as early as the beginning of the twentieth century. During this time, both Americans and Europeans were embraced by the idea of proper and healthy eating. At that time, the brothers made breakfast cereals made from soaked corn kernels passed through rollers. These breakfasts were more like raw, torn apart, dough. They were helped by an accident in which this body was placed on a hot baking sheet and forgotten about it. Thus, the first dry breakfasts were obtained. This idea was taken up by many companies, and the flakes were mixed with nuts. Fruit and other foods.

What are the benefits of breakfast cereals?

In the last twenty years, regular breakfasts, which consisted of sandwiches and cereals, have been replaced by dry ones. The main advantage of dry food is, first of all, time saving, which is very important in our time. Few people can afford a full and correct breakfast these days. That is why the main benefit of breakfast cereals is their simple and quick preparation. Such breakfasts are made elementary. One has only to pour milk over the cereal. In addition, milk can be replaced with yogurt or kefir.

During the production of breakfast cereals, all the beneficial substances of cereals are preserved. For example, corn flakes are saturated with vitamins A and E, while rice flakes contain amino acids important for our body. Oatmeal contains phosphorus and magnesium. But, unfortunately, not all breakfasts are good for the human body, some of them can be harmful.

Breakfast cereals include snacks, muesli, and cereals. Snacks are balls and pads of different sizes made from rice, corn, barley, oats and rye. These cereals are steamed under high pressure in order to preserve the maximum amount of beneficial trace elements and vitamins. However, with additional heat treatment, such as frying, the product loses its usefulness. When nuts, honey, fruits, chocolate are added to flakes, muesli is obtained. For the production of snacks, ground flakes, as well as various additions to them, are overcooked. More often children love snacks, so they are produced in the form of different figures. Some manufacturers add a variety of toppings to their snacks, including chocolate. However, after adding sugar and various additives to breakfast, it will no longer be very useful. In this regard, to maintain health and shape, it is better to choose unprocessed cereals or muesli with fruit and honey.

Why are breakfast cereals harmful?

The most harmful product is snacks, since more nutrients are destroyed during their preparation. One serving of such breakfasts contains only about two grams of fiber, while our body needs up to 30 grams of dietary fiber per day. It is more useful to eat unprocessed flakes that have not undergone heat treatment. This product will fill the body with the necessary amount of fiber. Snacks are harmful due to frying, as they become high in calories and fatty.

It is necessary to take into account the high calorie content of breakfast cereals. For example, the calorie content of stuffed pillows is about 400 calories, and chocolate balls - 380 calories. Cakes and sweets have a similar calorie content, and this is not useful. More damage is caused by various additives that make up breakfast cereals. That is why buy raw cereals for children, without various additives. Add honey, nuts or dried fruit to your breakfast cereal and skip foods that include sugar substitutes.

Wheat, rice and cornflakes are very easy to digest because they contain simple carbohydrates. This fills the body with energy and provides the brain with nutrition, but excessive consumption of these carbohydrates leads to excess weight.

Heat-treated dry breakfasts are very harmful. During cooking, the fat or oil used in the cooking process can lead to cardiovascular problems and high cholesterol levels. Flavor enhancers, leavening agents and flavoring agents are often included in breakfasts. Avoid purchasing products with these additives.

A child can be given flakes from the age of six, not earlier, since coarse fibers are complex for the absorption of the child's intestines.

The pain that people can periodically feel for various reasons can destroy all the plans made for the day, ruin the mood and worsen the quality of life. Pain can be of a different nature, but to get rid of it, people resort to using pain relievers. However, at the same time, few people think that by using an anesthetic, we can harm our health, since each drug has side effects that can manifest itself in a separate organism. However, not everyone knows that some foods are able to reduce or relieve painful sensations, while being effective enough and without exposing the body to additional risk. Of course, when any pain occurs, it is necessary to determine what it is associated with. Pain is a kind of signal from the body, indicating that it has a problem. Therefore, in no case can you ignore the pain, and sometimes it is impossible to do this, because it reminds of itself, sometimes at the most inopportune moment. In our article we will talk about what foods can relieve pain, or reduce its manifestation, at least for a while.

For people with chronic diseases that periodically manifest themselves as painful sensations, you can make up some kind of pain-relieving diet to alleviate their condition. So, here are some foods that can soothe pain:

Turmeric and ginger... Ginger is a proven medicine for many diseases that can effectively treat pain. For example, in oriental medicine, this plant is used to reduce toothache. To this end, you need to prepare a decoction of ginger and rinse the mouth with it. Pain from exercise and from intestinal upset and ulcers can be soothed with ginger and turmeric. In addition, these plants have a positive effect on kidney health.

Parsley... These greens contain essential oils that can stimulate blood circulation in the human body, including the blood supply to internal organs. When parsley is consumed, the body's adaptive abilities increase, which speeds up healing.

Chilli... This is another pain reliever. In the course of the studies conducted, it was found that red pepper is able to increase the pain threshold of a person. The molecules of this product activate the body's immune defenses and produce endorphins that act as a pain reliever. Traditionally, this pepper is included in the menu of peoples living in difficult natural conditions and engaged in hard physical labor.

bitter chocolate... As mentioned above, the hormone endorphin, which is also called the "hormone of happiness", is a natural pain reliever. The production of this natural pain reliever is stimulated by the consumption of chocolate. The peculiarity of chocolate to give pleasure to everyone is known, however, this product not only gives mood, but is able to relieve painful sensations.

Whole Grain Products... According to some experts, the pain-relieving properties of foods made with whole grains are prohibitively high. These foods are high in magnesium, which can help relieve muscle soreness. In addition, these foods help relieve headaches by protecting the body from dehydration.

Mustard... Mustard has the ability to relieve headaches that come from overwork or other causes. It is enough to eat a piece of bread smeared with fresh mustard.

Cherry... It is very easy to eliminate a headache by eating a few ripe cherries.

Garlic... This is another burning product that can relieve pain, and it also applies to pain caused by various inflammations.

Citrus... These fruits have pain relievers, just like other foods that contain vitamin C. Citrus fruits relieve pain from various causes. In addition, these fruits act as a general tonic. Therefore, it is the first product to be transferred to patients in the hospital.

Cinnamon... Another important remedy used in the fight against various inflammations and pains. Cinnamon reduces the negative effects of uric acid, an increased level of which can trigger the development of many diseases, including arthritis.

In Russia, the main sources of mining of rock crystal are Yakutia and the Urals. There are rare varieties with inclusions of pyrite, asbestos and tourmaline. Rock crystal found in Ukraine has a smoky color. In the Carpathians, as well as in the Crimea and Yakutia, there are transparent, very clean crystals with two heads and a strong luster, which are called Marmarosh diamonds.

How to distinguish glass from crystal not in laboratory conditions and without gemological equipment.

If you run wet fingers over the crystal surface, you will see a clear sound, reminiscent of ringing, but glass with such a "sound" will not work.

But the presence of gaseous bubbles or foreign inclusions suggests that you have ordinary glass in front of you. Rock crystal, on the other hand, can include only cracks and turbidity.

Rock crystal has a high refractive index, due to which it differs from glass in its special shine in light and play of color.

If, nevertheless, you have doubts, and it is necessary to establish the authenticity of the crystal, then it is better to resort to the help of an examination.

To begin with, it is important to understand what crystal and glass are and what is their fundamental difference.

We all consciously and subconsciously love and appreciate natural things, realizing that natural is always better. No one will create such magnificent examples of real art as soon as Nature.

So is crystal - it has so many advantages that glass (an artificially obtained material) can in no way be compared with it.

It is a colorless quartz, an icicle-shaped mineral (krystallos means icicle in Greek). Glass is a material obtained mainly from a mixture of quartz sand (SiO 2), soda (Na 2 CO 3) and lime (CaO) and does not have a crystalline structure.

In addition, there is artificial crystal- glass with the addition of lead. The clarity of the crystal depends on the% lead. The higher the percentage, the cleaner and more expensive the crystal. The most expensive crystal contains more than 30% lead oxide, the cheapest - from 18% to 24%, and in the USA it is permissible to call crystal even glass with 1% lead.

For creating colored crystal coloring additives are used. So, blue tones are obtained by adding cobalt, red - cadmium or gold, pink - silicon, green - copper oxide, purple - manganese oxide. The famous Swarovski crystals are the same artificial crystal.

Crystal glass differs from crystal in reduced lead content - from 4% to 15%. In addition, in crystal glass, part of the potassium is replaced by sodium, and part of the lead is replaced by zinc, barium, magnesium or calcium. As a rule, it is used to make dishes, glasses, wine glasses, vases for home and restaurants. By its properties, it is harder than ordinary glass, but softer than crystal, so even dishwashers are safe for crystal glass. Crystal, including crystal glass products, can easily tolerate temperature changes, so they can be scalded with boiling water or poured over with ice water.

The main distinguishing property of crystal and glass is thermal conductivity. You can hold a crystal glass in your hands for a long time and it will not heat up, absorbing all the heat from your palms. With glass, the situation is exactly the opposite - it heats up rather quickly by its surface, although inside it remains cold. So, in ancient Rome, rich people used crystal to cool the body on hot days.

The second pleasant property of crystal is the ability to produce a gentle "crystal" ringing, music from contact with another crystal glass or from a light blow with a thin stick or even a fingernail.

Crystal is harder than glass. A crystal glass is almost impossible to scratch and quite difficult to break. This is a very nice advantage for expensive cookware. On the Mohs scale of hardness, it corresponds to the number 7. Only topaz (8), corundum (9) and diamond (10) are even harder.

There can be cracks or turbidity in the rock crystal, but there can be no foreign bodies, bubbles or voids.

To understand that there is real crystal in front of you, carefully examine the glass into the light - it should not enlarge or distort the shape of objects. If you put the glass on a sheet of paper, the edge of the sheet will optically split. And the last thing - crystal perfectly refracts light, so crystal products are distinguished by a special shine and radiance.

You can buy crystal glasses, wine glasses, glasses and decanters in the appropriate