[KevinToodlepoot]

In my AP Chemistry class, my final project is about the chemistry of glass. Part of this project is to perform an in-class experiment that demonstrates the chemistry of glass. There is no specifics as to what kind of glass or anything like that. Although, since the experiment is done in class, it has to be relatively safe and possible with basic lab equipment. Any ideas are very much appreciated.

[Corribus]

So many possibilities!

I'd suggest as a starting point finding a good introductory text to materials science and reading about glass, ceramics, and other related materials. This should give you an idea of what you're dealing with, if you don't know a lot about glasses. As far as lab experiments or live demonstrations go, showing how the physical properties of (silica) glass change drastically as a function of temperature would be fun. When heated, for instance, a glass pipette becomes very ductile and elastic, like metal. Have you ever considered why? Can you find some types of glasses that aren't so vulnerable to thermal stress or don't melt so easily? Pyrex (borosilicate glass) may be an interesting topic in this regard, as could comparing quartz to soda lime glasses. There's a lot of chemistry there you can talk about.

You might also look up the phrases "glass transition", "vitrification", and "rubber" and think about what you can do to demonstrate these very important property of matter.  A related experiment to the heating of glass describe above is cooling of rubber (say, a squash ball) in liquid nitrogen. What happens? Why? And especially, why do these materials (rubber, silica) have such different temperature-property profiles.

Finally, water ice can be used to demonstrate some of the properties of glasses (versus highly crystalline material).