Which material-related element is used both in contact lenses and cooking ware?

Which material-related element is used both in contact lenses and cooking ware?

• A. Hydrogen
• B. Fluorine
• C. Oxygen
• D. Nitrogen

Answer: (B)

Fluorine stands out because it gives materials two very useful properties that show up in both eyes and the kitchen: low surface energy and strong chemical bonds. In nonstick cookware, fluorinated polymers like PTFE rely on carbon–fluorine bonds to create a slick, heat-stable surface that foods don’t cling to and that resists high temperatures. For contact lenses, fluorine is used in fluorinated monomers to make polymers with high oxygen permeability and a stable, low-energy surface. This helps the lens stay comfortable and allows more oxygen to reach the cornea, while also improving surface characteristics. So fluorine is the element that connects both applications.

Fluorine stands out because it gives materials two very useful properties that show up in both eyes and the kitchen: low surface energy and strong chemical bonds. In nonstick cookware, fluorinated polymers like PTFE rely on carbon–fluorine bonds to create a slick, heat-stable surface that foods don’t cling to and that resists high temperatures. For contact lenses, fluorine is used in fluorinated monomers to make polymers with high oxygen permeability and a stable, low-energy surface. This helps the lens stay comfortable and allows more oxygen to reach the cornea, while also improving surface characteristics. So fluorine is the element that connects both applications.