Container glass, which is derived from the fusion of sand, sodium carbonate, limestone or dolomite, and feldspar, along with small amounts of colorants, reducing agents, and other modifiers, offers quite a challenge to the analyst, whether it be by conventional wet-chemical methods or by modern instrumentation. An analysis for 12 elements, which would take many days by standard wet methods, can now be done in 3–4 hr for a single sample, or 2 hr when analyzed in groups of three or more samples.

X-ray procedures have been developed and calibration curves obtained for SiO2, CaO, MgO, K2O, Al2O3, Cr2O3, Mn2O3, Fe2O3, CoO, BaO,TiO2, SrO, ZrO2, As2O5, and SO3 In glass. With a gravimetric determination of Na2O added to the elements determined by Xray, the total should approach 100%. An analysis Is considered satisfactory if the combined determinations total within ±0.3% of 100%. Various X-ray procedures and matrix effects shall be discussed.