Fullerene - GCSE Chemistry Definition

Fullerenes are a type of carbon molecule with a unique, cage-like structure made up entirely of carbon atoms. The most famous fullerene is called a "buckyball" because it looks like a football, with carbon atoms arranged in a pattern of hexagons and pentagons. These interesting molecules can conduct electricity and have potential uses in various fields like electronics and medicine. Fullerenes are different from other forms of carbon, like graphite and diamond, because of their distinct shape and structure. Understanding fullerenes helps students explore how different arrangements of the same element, carbon, can lead to very different materials with unique properties.