A bottle is a container for holding liquids, typically a clear, cylindrical liquid such as water, juice, milk, soda or petroleum-based chemicals. Bottles are often made of glass, but there is also an increasing number of bottles made from plastic. Plastics are derived from monomers such as ethylene and terephthalic acid. They are lightweight, strong and can be molded into a wide range of shapes. Bottles can be produced in large quantities using various molding techniques such as extrusion blow molding, co-extrusion blow molding and injection molding. Bottles can be designed to be either disposable or reusable, and are frequently used for food and beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and household cleaners.
A “bottle” may also be any of a number of slang terms referring to the act of taking something by force:
To be bottled (British slang) – to lose your nerve, to abandon an attempt at a challenge or feat at the last moment. Also, to be given a ‘bottle’ – a Navy slang term for a reprimand.
The bottle is the main body of a vessel; a neck connects to a top for pouring or dispensing its contents. A neck may be straight or tapered; the latter is called a spout neck. The bottle may have a cap, closure or cork to seal it; caps are also called lids.
A bottle may be decorated with various materials, including paints, dyes and labels. Labels are sometimes attached with adhesive, but more often built into the bottle during the molding process. A technique for producing a labeled bottle during the molding process is called in-mould labelling.
Glass is a unique material in that it is neither a crystalline nor a liquid, but a disordered amorphous solid. This gives it its unique properties, which make it suitable for storing liquids. Bottles made of glass are typically clear and uncolored. However, the bottle can be made in many different colors, shapes and sizes. Bottles are also manufactured from a variety of other materials, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and Polycarbonate.
A bottle can be a container for almost any liquid, but is most commonly used for beverage containers. In the case of carbonated drinks, the bottle can contain a mixture of gases that is pressurized to create carbonation, which increases the surface area for holding and dispersing the liquids.
Bottled Water
In the United States, bottled water accounts for over half of all beverages consumed. This is due to the availability and ease of purchasing bottled water in supermarkets. It is a convenient alternative to tap water, which is usually provided by municipal water systems. However, bottled water can be expensive compared to other beverages. Bottled water is sometimes marketed as a healthy drink. Despite the convenience of buying and storing bottled water, consumers should be aware of the environmental impacts of its production. In addition to consuming energy and raw materials, discarded bottles can pose serious health hazards for marine life, especially when they are left on beaches or in oceans.