Final answer:
Porcelain is a hard, vitreous, translucent ceramic made of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, fired at high temperatures, and was developed in 8th-century China. It is known for its exceptional properties, including high hardness, thermal resistance, and electrical insulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The material being described is porcelain, an extremely fine, hard, translucent, white ceramic material that was invented in China in the 8th century CE. Porcelain consists essentially of kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, and these are fired at a very high temperature, creating a vitreous and typically translucent product. Being a ceramic, porcelain belongs to a class of solids made of inorganic compounds, with ionic and covalent bonds, showcasing properties such as high hardness and thermal resistance. These ceramics, including porcelain, are often used in various applications due to their exceptional toughness, electrical insulation, and resistance to chemical attacks.
With the addition of aluminosilicate glass or borosilicate compositions, these ceramics can vary in terms of their melting points and shaping difficulties but maintain excellent thermal resistance and durability. Porcelain was historically used to create fine tableware and art pieces, especially after innovations that allowed for the creation of thinner vessels with a variety of shapes and finishes, influenced by international demands, such as those from the Islamic world.