Solvent properties of glass melts: resemblance to aqueous solutions

Abstract

The solvent properties of oxidic glass melts are compared with those of water and discussed in terms of chemical bonding and the ability of oxygen, in the oxidation state of –2, to donate electron charge. The nature of the environment for hosted metal ions is discussed and the optical basicity model is applied to problems of redox equilibria, such as for the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ –oxygen(0)/oxide(–II) reaction and for the corrosion of metals generally. The application of the optical basicity model also allows the development of a relationship between the Lewis and Brønsted theories of acids and bases.