Buckminsterfullerene - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Buckminsterfullerene, commonly known as a "buckyball," is a simple molecular form of carbon discovered in 1985. It consists of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a spherical shape resembling a football, with a structure similar to a geodesic dome, hence its name after the architect Richard Buckminster Fuller. This molecule is part of the fullerene class of carbon allotropes which includes entities like carbon nanotubes.

In GCSE Chemistry, students study buckminsterfullerene to understand its unique properties, such as being light, having high tensile strength, and excellent electrical conductivity, all of which make it useful in fields like materials science and nanotechnology.