Carbon: Buckminsterfullerene

The video discusses the discovery and significance of a new carbon allotrope, C60, in the 1980s. Professor Harry Kroto, along with Robert Curl and Richard Smalley, conducted experiments that led to the formation of C60, a molecule with a unique geodesic sphere structure. Named after Buckminster Fuller, these 'buckyballs' have significant applications in chemistry, particularly in heat resistance, superconductivity, and nanotechnology.

Who was the professor studying carbon formation in distant stars in 1985?

• Professor Robert Curl

• Professor Harry Kroto

• Professor Richard Smalley

• Professor Buckminster Fuller

What was the unique feature of the C60 molecule discovered in the experiment?

• It was capped by hydrogen atoms

• It formed a geodesic sphere

• It was a liquid at room temperature

• It was a long chain molecule

What shape did the carbon atoms form in the C60 molecule?

• A geodesic sphere

• A flat sheet

• A pyramid

• A cube

What is the name given to the new allotrope of carbon discovered?

• Buckminster fullerene

• Graphene

• Carbon nanotube

• Diamond

In which fields are the properties of fullerenes particularly significant?

• Astronomy and astrophysics

• Heat resistance, superconductivity, and nanotechnology

• Agriculture and food science

• Biology and medicine