Below is a structured summary, organized by element/compound and the resulting glow color under UV light. The daylight color of the glass is also shown.
Key Points:
- Most Common Colors: Indicated in CAPS (e.g., Uranium: GREEN, YELLOW; Cadmium: RED, ORANGE, YELLOW).
- Less Common Colors: Listed in lower case (e.g., Uranium: amber, orange, teal; Cadmium: green).
- UV Glow: Fluorescence under UV light (typically 365nm to 395 nm) varies in intensity, with Uranium and Cerium being the strongest.
- Neodymium: Unique for its lighting-dependent color changes, with no UV fluorescence specified.
- Boron Nitrate: Not a glass colorant but noted for external fluorescence when used as a mold-releasing agent.
Element/Compound | UV Glow | Glass Colors (Most Common in CAPS, Less Common in Lower Case) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Uranium | Bright green | GREEN, YELLOW (transparent); custard yellow (sometimes pink gradient), lime, mint green, jade, caramel (opaque) | Vibrant fluorescence, often found in Vaseline glass. Opaque colors are less common. |
Lead | Icy blue | CLEAR, yellow | Subtle fluorescence, purple is most common, others less frequent. |
Cerium | Intense light blue | CLEAR | Strong fluorescence, typically clear glass. |
Manganese | Weak lemonade-like greenish yellow, turbid (365nm) | PURPLE, clear, red, yellow, orange, peach | White glass is the most common, used for opacity. |
Antimony | Weak bluish white | WHITE, clear, yellow | Bright fluorescence, red/orange/yellow dominate, green is less common. |
Cadmium | Orange, red, pink, yellow | RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, green | Bright fluorescence, red/orange/yellow dominate, green less common. |
Selenium | Pale pink or orange | AMBER, RED, yellow, orange | Amber and red most common, used in traffic light lenses. |
Calcium Carbonate | Weak yellow/green | CLEAR | Used as a flux, primarily clear glass. |
Neodymium | None specified | LILAC/PINK (sunlight/yellow incandescent); SMOKEY BLUE (fluorescent lighting) | Dichromatic, color shifts with lighting, no UV glow noted. |
Boron Nitrate | Lime green, yellow (outside only) | Not specified (mold-releasing agent) | Fluorescence on exterior surface only, not a glass colorant. |
