buckyball
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A spheroidal fullerene molecule; specifically, the first discovered and most iconic fullerene, C₆₀, with a structure resembling a soccer ball. - A buckyball is a molecule composed entirely of carbon, forming a hollow sphere, ellipsoid, or tube. The most common and famous buckyball is C₆₀, which has a cage-like structure of 60 carbon atoms arranged in pentagons and hexagons.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The discovery of the buckyball, or C₆₀, revolutionized the field of nanotechnology.
- Under the microscope, the buckyball's structure looks remarkably like a tiny football.
- Scientists are studying the electrical properties of the buckyball for use in new materials.
Advanced Usage
- "Buckyball" as a generic term: While "buckyball" often specifically refers to C₆₀, it is sometimes used more loosely to refer to any spherical fullerene molecule.
- The research paper compared the stability of various buckyballs, including C₆₀ and C₇₀.
- In technical contexts, it is often specified as "Buckminsterfullerene", named after the architect Buckminster Fuller due to the structural resemblance to his geodesic domes.
Variants and Related Words
- Fullerene (n): The broader class of carbon molecules that includes buckyballs (spherical) and carbon nanotubes (cylindrical).
- Fullerenes are an important allotrope of carbon.
- Carbon nanotube (n): A cylindrical fullerene, often considered a relative of the buckyball.
- Carbon nanotubes are known for their exceptional strength.
- C₆₀ (n): The chemical formula for the most common buckyball.
Synonyms
- Buckminsterfullerene: The formal, full name for the C₆₀ buckyball.
- C₆₀: The chemical designation, often used synonymously in scientific literature.
Related Phrases/Compounds
- Buckyball cluster: A group or aggregate of buckyball molecules.
- The sample contained a buckyball cluster that exhibited unique magnetic properties.
- Endohedral buckyball: A buckyball that has an atom or a small molecule trapped inside its cage structure.
- An endohedral buckyball containing a nitrogen atom was synthesized in the lab.
Noun
- a spheroidal fullerene; the first known example of a fullerene