Yes, fire can turn sand into glass through a process called vitrification. Vitrification occurs when sand, which primarily consists of silica (SiO2), is exposed to high temperatures, typically around 1700 to 2000 degrees Celsius (3092 to 3632 degrees Fahrenheit). At these extreme temperatures, the heat causes the silica molecules in the sand to melt and fuse together.
When the sand melts, it transforms into a liquid state. As it cools down rapidly, either by removing the heat source or by being quenched in water, the liquid silica solidifies and forms an amorphous, solid material known as glass. The rapid cooling prevents the atoms in the molten silica from arranging themselves into a crystalline structure, resulting in the formation of glass, which has a disordered atomic arrangement.
So, in summary, fire can indeed transform sand into glass by heating the sand to high temperatures and allowing it to cool rapidly, leading to the vitrification process.