buckminsterfullerene

[ buhk-min-ster-fool-uh-reen ]

noun

1. the form of fullerene having sixty carbon atoms.

buckminsterfullerene

/ ˌbʌkmɪnstəˈfʊləˌriːn /

noun

1. a form of carbon that contains molecules having 60 carbon atoms arranged at the vertices of a polyhedron with hexagonal and pentagonal faces. It is produced in carbon arcs and occurs naturally in small amounts in certain minerals

buckminsterfullerene

/ bŭk′mĭn-stər-fl′ə-rēn′ /

1. An extremely stable, ball-shaped carbon molecule whose structure looks like a geodesic dome. It is believed to occur naturally in soot, and was the first fullerene to be discovered. Also called buckyball. Chemical formula: C 60 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckminsterfullerene¹

First recorded in 1985; fullerene

Word History and Origins

Origin of buckminsterfullerene¹

C20: named after Buckminster Fuller