The primary material used in making glass is silica, which is a form of silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silica is typically derived from sand, and it serves as the main glass-forming ingredient. Other materials may be added to enhance specific properties of the glass, such as soda (sodium carbonate) and lime (calcium oxide) to lower the melting point and improve durability. The glass-making process involves heating these materials at high temperatures until they melt, after which they can be formed into various shapes before cooling to create the solid glass product.