Fullerene facts for kids

A fullerene is a special type of molecule made only of carbon atoms. These molecules are shaped like hollow spheres, ovals, or tubes.

The ones shaped like spheres are often called buckyballs. They look a lot like a soccer ball. The tube-shaped fullerenes are known as carbon nanotubes or buckytubes. They are always hollow inside.

Scientists Robert Curl, Harold Kroto, and Richard Smalley discovered fullerenes in 1985. They found them while working at the University of Sussex and Rice University. The name "fullerene" comes from Buckminster Fuller, a famous architect. His Geodesic domes have shapes similar to these molecules.

How Fullerenes Are Made

Fullerenes are created by heating up graphite. Graphite is a form of carbon, like the lead in your pencil. This heating happens in an electric arc, which is like a very hot spark. They also need special gases, like helium or argon, to be present. These gases are called inert because they don't react with other things.

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  This is a rotating model of the C₆₀ fullerene.

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  A soccer ball looks like the C₆₀ fullerene.

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  This shows the network of atoms in the C₆₀ fullerene.

Images for kids

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  Model of the C20 fullerene.

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  Model of a carbon nanotube.

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  C60 fullerite (a solid form of C60).

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  The icosahedral fullerene C₅₄₀, another member of the family of fullerenes.

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  C₆₀ with isosurface of ground state electron density as calculated with DFT.

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  Rotating view of C₆₀, one kind of fullerene.

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  This rotating model of a carbon nanotube shows its 3D structure.

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  Fullerite (scanning electron microscope image).

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  C₆₀ in solution.

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  C₆₀ in extra virgin olive oil, showing the characteristic purple color of pristine C₆₀ solutions.

See also

In Spanish: Fullereno para niños