Question

What are the uses of glass tubes?
a.) Laboratory glassware
b.) Lighting application
c.) Solar thermal system and pharmaceutical packaging
d.) All of these

Answer 1

Hint:Glass tubes are primarily of three types. Each type has a different composition and uses accordingly.
soda-lime
borosilicate
quartz

Complete step by step solution:
Glass tubes are narrow cylindrical containers used for measuring volume, storage, and many more applications. Glass tubes are generally more accurate than beakers, with error as minimal as one percent of the actual volume while measuring.
Glass tubes with good chemical, mechanical and thermal properties can be used in various daily as well as commercial applications. The most common types are soda lime and borosilicate, which we see in our laboratories for experimentation or storage and are used in pharmaceutical packaging. Let’s see what makes it the most suitable option for this application.
Low coefficient of thermal expansion
Glass tubes have a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The glass tubes can withstand temperature as high as 726 °C.
Resistant to acid and alkali reactions
They also have a high resistance towards any acid and alkali reaction is high, especially quartz, which do not react with any acid except hydrofluoric acid.

Excellent outlooking properties
Our glass tubes are perfectly clear, bright and polished surfaces, which is a big help when it is required to monitor the reaction.
Quartz is an industrial and commercial grade of glass, having a very high softening point, 1780 °C. Due to this reason it is suitable for lighting and solar thermal applications.
So, the correct option is (d).

Note: Interestingly, the stability of glass is 30 times that of ceramic and 150 times of stainless steel. For clear outlook always clean the glass tubes immediately after use to prevent any chemical residue from hardening.