Buckminsterfullerene (Noun)
Meaning
A spheroidal fullerene; the first known example of a fullerene.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The molecule buckminsterfullerene, named after the famous architect, consists of sixty carbon atoms arranged in a spheroidal structure resembling a soccer ball.
- Scientists first discovered buckminsterfullerene in 1985 using a mass spectrometer to analyze the vaporized products of a graphite sample.
- The name buckminsterfullerene comes from Buckminster Fuller, an American architect who popularized the geodesic dome, which the molecule resembles in structure.
- In buckminsterfullerene, the carbon atoms form strong covalent bonds, creating a remarkably stable and resilient molecule.
- Researchers continue to study the properties and potential applications of buckminsterfullerene due to its unique and fascinating structure.