Buckminsterfullerine
Buckminsterfullerine (also called "bucky
balls") is a recently discovered stable moleculemade of pure carbon.The other
stable carbon molecules are graphite, a two-dimensional planar structure
that is used as a lubricant; and diamond, a three-dimensional
lattice. Bucky balls are very interesting for a couple of reasons: they
make a great lubricant, being essentially a molecular sized ball
bearing; and they enclose a space and thus can be used as a container for
atomic-scale objects.
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