Buckyball. Computer artwork of part of a C60 Buckminsterfullerene, a third allotrope (structural form) of carbon (after diamond and graphite). The mol

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Buckyball. Computer artwork of part of a C60 Buckminsterfullerene, a third allotrope (structural form) of carbon (after diamond and graphite). The molecule is known as a buckyball. Spheres in this molecule represent carbon atoms whilst the lines represent the bonds between them. The bonds link the 60 carbon atoms in pentagons and hexagons to form a football-shaped (soccer ball) structure. This molecule was discovered in 1985. It was the first of a range of spherical fullerenes to be found. Fullerenes have novel physical and chemical properties which can be exploited to produce new catalysts, lubricants and superconductors.

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Size: 3796px × 2446px
Photo credit: © ALFRED PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: allotrope, artwork, buckminsterfullerene, buckyball, c60, carbon, chemical, chemistry, compound, compounds, fullerene, graphic, molecular, molecule, molecules, organic