Transparency and translucency: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:41, 18 February 2023

Revision as of 17:51, 18 February 2023

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Most [[Insulator (electricity)|insulators]] (or [[dielectric]] materials) are held together by [[ionic bond]]s. Thus, these materials do not have free [[conduction electrons]], and the bonding electrons reflect only a small fraction of the incident wave. The remaining frequencies (or wavelengths) are free to propagate (or be transmitted). This class of materials includes all [[ceramic materials|ceramics]] and [[glass]]es.

If a dielectric material does not include light-absorbent additive molecules (pigments, dyes, colorants), it is usually transparent to the spectrum of visible light. [[Colour centre (disambiguation)|Color center]]scenters (or dye molecules, or "[[Dopant|dopants]]") in a dielectric absorb a portion of the incoming light. The remaining frequencies (or wavelengths) are free to be reflected or transmitted. This is how colored glass is produced.

Most liquids and aqueous solutions are highly transparent. For example, water, cooking oil, rubbing alcohol, air, and natural gas are all clear. Absence of structural defects (voids, cracks, etc.) and molecular structure of most liquids are chiefly responsible for their excellent optical transmission. The ability of liquids to "heal" internal defects via viscous flow is one of the reasons why some fibrous materials (e.g., paper or fabric) increase their apparent transparency when wetted. The liquid fills up numerous voids making the material more structurally homogeneous.{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}}