2 ms·

This isn't a metal.

• A_D_E_P_T 2y ago
  In fairness the pop-sci media never got the memo. They keep calling it "transparent aluminum." It's interesting to highlight the fact that all metals necessarily look shiny and opaque due to the way their electron configurations -- that "sea of electrons" which is common to all metals -- interact with visible light. Some metals are transparent in other wavelengths, though. Beryllium is famously transparent to x-rays.
  • pfdietz 2y ago
    And sodium to vacuum UV. https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-21-23-28182&id=274378 https://opg.optica.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-21-23-28182&id...
• gus_massa 2y ago
  I agree. It's very similar to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corundum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corundum that is transparent unless it has some minor contamination that gives it a color and is call "ruby", "sapphire", ... Nobody call ruby a metal.