Question

The molten mixture of sand, soda, limestone for the development of glass is called as __________

• A. mold
• B. gob
• C. curing
• D. annealing

Hint:

Visualize a glass bottle factory. A stream of glowing, molten glass comes out of the furnace. Shears cut off a precise "gob" of this glass, which then drops into a mold to be shaped. The gob is the raw material unit for one bottle.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question relates to the terminology used in the manufacturing process of glass containers. After the raw materials (sand, soda ash, limestone) are melted in a furnace, the molten glass is formed into individual containers.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- The molten mixture of raw materials is simply called molten glass or glass melt. However, in the forming process, a specific, measured amount of this molten glass is sheared off to form a single container. This portion of molten glass is called a gob.
- Mold is the hollow form into which the gob is placed to be shaped (by blowing or pressing) into a bottle or jar.
- Curing is a term typically associated with polymers and concrete, not glass manufacturing.
- Annealing is a crucial step that happens after the glass is formed. It involves slowly cooling the container in a special oven (a lehr) to relieve internal stresses and prevent it from shattering easily.
Among the given options, "gob" is the term for a portion of the molten mixture used in the development process.
Step 4: Final Answer:
A measured portion of the molten glass mixture used to form a single glass item is known as a gob. Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer.