Buckyball: Tiny Carbon Soccer Balls

The video discusses the significance of carbon, focusing on the discovery of a new allotrope called Buckminsterfullerene or Buckyball (C60) in 1985 by scientists Kroto, Heath, and Smalley. The Buckyball, resembling a soccer ball, was discovered using lasers on graphite. Its unique structure, consisting of 60 carbon atoms, makes it stable and less reactive. Fullerenes, including C60, occur naturally on Earth and in space. Despite being costly to produce, Buckyballs have potential applications in medicine and materials science due to their electrical conductivity and hardness.

Who were the scientists credited with discovering Buckminsterfullerene?

• Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr

• Harold Kroto, James R. Heath, and Richard Smalley

• Marie Curie and Pierre Curie

• Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei

What was the shape of the newly discovered carbon molecule C60?

• A cube

• A pyramid

• A soccer ball

• A cylinder

What technique did Kroto and Smalley use to break carbon-carbon bonds in graphite?

• Heating with a Bunsen burner

• Dissolving in acid

• Using a super powerful laser

• Applying high pressure

What is a unique property of C60 that makes it useful in potential medical applications?

• It glows in the dark

• It is magnetic

• It can conduct electricity

• It is highly reactive with water

What are 'Bucky bombs' potentially used for in medicine?

• To enhance vision

• To deliver medication or destroy tumors

• To improve digestion

• To increase bone density