"The second path to commercialization lies through competition with existing products. As a result Buckminsterfullerene doesnt conduct electricity. The text of the plaque commemorating the development reads: In this building in early September 1985, a team of scientists discovered a previously unknown pure carbon molecule, C60, which they dubbed buckminsterfullerene. How is buckminsterfullerene a good lubricant?
Buckminsterfullerene: An Overview - Gordon College Thus, fullerene may be highly useful in preventing many skin problems related to oxidative stress. "Are there recognized applications of fullerenes today that are guaranteed to have an effect on the lives of our children in, say, 2050? Why are fullerenes used for drug delivery? have a deep purple color which leaves a brown residue on evaporation. . Carbon nanotubes are very strong and light, and can act as semiconductors or conductors.
Why does buck ministerfullerene act as a good lubricant Each six membered rings is surrounded, alternately, by hexagons and pentagons of carbons; each pentagon is fused to five hexagons. The newborn girl was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for 3 weeks and discharged without sequelae. fullerene, also called buckminsterfullerene, any of a series of hollow carbon molecules that form either a closed cage ("buckyballs") or a cylinder (carbon "nanotubes"). (d)Figure 1 shows a model of a Buckminsterfullerene molecule. What is Buckminsterfullerene? They show some promise as electrical conductors and lubricants, for example, but it is not yet clear how effectively those properties can be exploited. During experiments aimed at understanding the mechanisms by which long-chain carbon molecules are formed in interstellar space and circumstellar shells 1, graphite . Their hollow structure could make them useful for delivering medicine in the future. So it has five membered rings less than six membered rings. Suggest why Buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant. Nanotubes have high tensile strength , so they are strong in tension and resist being stretched. Despite their unusual name and their relatively short time on the research scene, there are many possible fullerene uses.Fullerene uses could be infinite Antioxidants. (but is) only partially / slightly Celebrating and advancing your work with awards, grants, fellowships & scholarships. When C60 is mixed with a disulfide RSSR, the radical C60SR forms spontaneously upon irradiation of the mixture. It can be used as radical scavenger and antioxidant. Suggest why Buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant. , The equation below represents a chemical reaction that occurs in living cells. 4C6H6. This mixture of polyhydrofullerenes can be re-oxidized by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone to give C60 again. At first, the group referred to it as a wadge, a British term for a handful of stuff, with Smalley referring to the mother wadge, Kroto to the godwadge.14, Since Kroto was scheduled to return to England early the following week, Heath and OBrien spent the weekend trying to plumb the mystery molecules properties.
what is the use of Buckminsterfullerene? - Meritnation do not have a giant covalent structure. Does buckminsterfullerene conduct electricity? [citation needed], Addition of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine occurs for C60. Taubes, The Disputed Birth of Buckyballs, p. 1477; Aldersey-Williams. Cyclopropanation also occur readily with diazomethanes. Give two factors that affect the voltage produced by a cell. Years have passed since the discovery of Buckminsterfullerene. Is Lube safe to go inside? Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. A high pressure burst of gas sweeps the vapor through the machine into a vacuum chamber, where clusters begin to condense as the vapor cools. Their construction roughly resembles the interlocked trusses of Buckminster Fuller's famous geodesic domes, which is why these molecules are called fullerenes or buckyballs. Smalley, Great Balls of Carbon, pp. [40] Fcc C60 contains voids at its octahedral and tetrahedral sites which are sufficiently large (0.6 and 0.2nm respectively) to accommodate impurity atoms. Buckyballs are good lubricants because of their spherical shape. Helium (He) can also be trapped by heating C60 in helium vapour under pressure. Their cage structure and poly aromaticity cause the formation of a displaced electron cloud that allows these molecules to act as charge-transfer complexes. Its molecules are made up of 60 carbon atoms joined together by strong covalent bonds. Specially, when fluorine is attached on the exterior which increases the ability of its round shape. Chemical Properties of Buckminsterfullerene, Buckminsterfullerene can easily be reduced electrochemically to form fulleride ion, It reacts with group-1 metals forming solid K. , which acts as a superconductor below 18K. under light exposure causes it to degrade, becoming dangerous. Their cage structure and polyaromaticity cause the formation of a displaced electron cloud that allows these molecules to act as charge transfer complexes. Buckminsterfullerene (C60) is a spherical carbon allotrope where 60 atoms are assembled in pentagons and hexagons, in a geometry similar to a soccer ball. Truncated icosahedron: technical term for a soccer ball in the United States, a football everywhere else. Suggest why Buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant. Now no cheating was required. Recognizing ACS local sections, divisions and other volunteers for their work in promoting chemistry. Not to my knowledge. The compound was discovered in 1985 and has received intense study, although few real world applications have been found. C60 fullerene cannot conduct electricity. Weak intermolecular forces exist between buckyballs. At some point during the previous week Buckminster Fuller and his geodesic domes had been raised. It can catalyse photochemical refining in industry. Gene and drug delivery. ionised. Types. Its molecules are made up of 60 carbon atoms joined together by strong covalent bonds. These measurements later led to the detection, by radioastronomy, of chainlike molecules consisting of 5 to 11 carbon atoms in interstellar gas clouds and in the atmospheres of carbon-rich red giant stars. Why are fullerenes used for drug delivery? Kroto was intrigued, and he accompanied Curl back to Houston, where he examined the machine and immediately saw the possibility of putting carbon in it to explore his theory about the formation of carbon chains in the atmosphere of stars.5 Smalley was less intrigued. Like graphene, nanotubes are strong, and they conduct electricity because they have delocalised electrons. Which of the following is known as buckminsterfullerene? Required fields are marked *, Difference Between Allotropes And Isomers, The 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Richard Smalley, Robert Curl, and Harold Kroto for their discovery of a new allotrope of carbon, C, is a spherical carbon allotrope where 60 atoms are assembled in pentagons and hexagons, in a geometry similar to a, atoms are connected by single and double bonds, these are often called. They can act as hollow cages to trap other molecules. At the same time, one should not be too disappointed if the answer is 'not yet.'. Fullerenes are a remarkable class of molecules in which large numbers of carbon molecules are locked together into a roughly spherical shape. [51][49], Some producers have been able to dissolve C60 in water to avoid possible problems with oils, but that would not protect C60 from light, so the same cautions are needed. They are made up of large molecules but do not have a giant covalent structure. Robert Curl, Jr., series of interviews with Dr. Cyrus Mody, spring-summer, 2008. Carbon nanotubes are very strong and light, and can act as semiconductors or conductors. Suggest why Buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant. Unmodified hydrated 60 fullerene molecules exhibit antioxidant properties, prevent damage to DNA and proteins induced by reactive oxygen species and protect mice against injuries caused by radiation-induced oxidative stress. 's history reveals that she had 1 preterm delivery 4 years ago at 31 weeks gestation. Weak intermolecular forces exist between individual buckyballs. Baggott. Then on Wednesday, September 4, using helium as the carrier gas, the students noticed, in Krotos words, something quite remarkable taking place, an odd peak in the mass spectroscopy measurement of the molecules that formed in the vapor.12 The peak occurred at sixty carbon atoms (a smaller peak also occurred at seventy atoms). Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards terms like suggest why buckminsterfullerene is a good lubricant:, graphite properties (specific content for test q in bold):, surface area to volume ratio equation: and more. In spherical form, it is known as a buckyball. She states that she feels occasional uterine cramping and does not believe that her membranes have ruptured. How did the outcome of Rutherfords gold-foil experiment indicate the existence of a nucleus? Kroto was convinced that these unusual, long flexible molecules had been created in the atmospheres of carbon-rich red giant stars and wanted to prove this contention using Smalleys laser-supersonic cluster beam apparatus. Fullerenes, a new form of carbon nanomaterials, possess unique physical and mechanical properties that make their use as additives to liquid lubricants potentially beneficial.
8 Useful Applications of Fullerenes You'll Be Surprised to Know Operators fire an intense laser pulse at a target, which creates a hot vapor above it.
Why Is Buckminsterfullerene A Good Lubricant - WHYIENJOY Fullerenes are also allotropes of carbon. When an electric spark is struck between graphite electrodes, soot is produced.
PDF CHEMISTRY - Ark Boulton Academy Like other solvates, this one readily releases benzene to give the usual fcc C60. Surname Forename(s) Candidate signature . Why does graphene have high electrical conductivity? The C60 molecules can also be coupled through a [2+2] cycloaddition, giving the dumbbell-shaped compound C120. Why Are Fullerenes Good Lubricants - It Is All about Their Structure The Early Experiments Proved Fullerenes Additives Could Significantly Improve the Performance of Lubricants Providing a Proof What Are the Properties of Fullerene Lubricant? A lubricant is a substance that helps to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. Last edited on 27 February 2023, at 22:42, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone, Health and safety hazards of nanomaterials, International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, "The infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectra of laboratory-produced carbon dust: evidence for the presence of the C, "Wave-particle duality in actionbig molecules surf on their own waves", "Discrete Fulleride Anions and Fullerenium Cations", "Hydrogen Storage in Novel Organometallic Buckyballs", "Ultrahard bulk amorphous carbon from collapsed fullerene", "C60 in olive oil causes light-dependent toxicity", "Disposition of fullerene C60 in rats following intratracheal or intravenous administration", "Fullerene Thin Films as Photovoltaic Material", "Fullerenes and Nanostructures in Diffusion Flames", A brief overview of buckminsterfullerene described by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, A report by Ming Kai College detailing the properties of buckminsterfullerene, Donald R. Huffman and Wolfgang Krtschmer's paper pertaining to the synthesis of C, An article about buckminsterfullerene on Connexions Science Encyclopaedia, Extensive statistical data compiled by the University of Sussex on the numerical quantitative properties of buckminsterfullerene, A web portal dedicated to buckminsterfullerene, authored and supported by the University of Bristol, Another web portal dedicated to buckminsterfullerene, authored and supported by the Chemistry Department at the University of Bristol, American Chemical Society's complete article on buckminsterfullerene, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buckminsterfullerene&oldid=1141987200, 0.40.5Pa (T 800K); 14Pa (T 900K), This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 22:42. All the 60 carbon atoms are equivalent and give rise to a single, When an electric spark is struck between graphite electrodes, soot is produced. It readily accepts and donates electrons, a behaviour that suggests possible applications in batteries and advanced electronic devices. The following are easily extracted from the soot by dissolving them in benzene or hydrocarbon solvents, giving a red solution and finally mustard colour crystals. In this building in early September 1985, a team of scientists discovered a previously unknown pure carbon molecule, C60, which they dubbed buckminsterfullerene. Match. Complexes have been reported molybdenum, tungsten, platinum, palladium, iridium, and titanium. Quick Answer: Why Is Crafting And Building Not Working, A Did You Draw The Outer Shell Electrons Unpaired Why, Your Question: Why You Can T Craft Chain Armor, Quick Answer: Why Arts And Crafts Are Important, Your Question: Why You Love Arts And Crafts, Your Question: Why Is Craft Beer So Expensive, Can You Draw An Equilateral Triangle On A Grid, Quick Answer: Can You Draw All Exodia Pieces, Your Question: Can You Draw An Equilateral Polygon That Is Not Equiangular, Your Question: Can You Draw An Equation On Google Docs, Your Question: Can You Draw An Arrow In Pdf, Can You Draw An Outline In Pencil And Then Watercolor, Your Question: Can You Draw All Network Bandwidth To One Computer, Your Question: Can You Draw An Outline In Pencil And Thenwaerclor. A closed structure, a cage, would have no dangling bonds.17, None of the scientists on the team remembers who first suggested a caged structure.
Does Buckminsterfullerene Have Delocalized Electrons? concentration of electrolyte Kroto also remembered visiting Fullers famous geodesic dome at Expo 67 in Montreal.19, At one point, the team viewed a photograph of one of the architects domes, a shed for railroad rolling stock designed by Fuller for the Union Tank Car Company in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "Many very clever people are currently working on possible commercial uses for fullerenes. While you are waiting for lab results, what therapeutic measures do you consider? In contrast to chemicallyeither covalently or noncovalentlymodified fullerenes, some C60 derivatives can be highly toxic. Answer (1 of 4): Buckminster-fullerene, also known as a "buckyball" is a molecule with the formula C60. Reactions: Chemistry Science Videos & Infographics For example, in C60Br8 and C60Br24, the Br atoms are in 1,3- or 1,4-positions with respect to each other. Practical applications, however, will only be realized when accurate structural control has been achieved over the synthesis of these new materials. There are weak intermolecular forces between molecules of buckminsterfullerene. Uncover the Chemistry in Everyday Life.
PDF GCSE Grade - examqa.com Thus, fullerene may be highly useful in preventing many skin problems related to oxidative stress. Properties of Graphene. It is flexible. What is special about buckminsterfullerene? Fullerene consists of 12 five-membered rings and 20 six-membered rings . The discovery of fullerenes also led to research in carbon nanotubes, the cylindrical cousins of buckyballs, and the development of new fields of advanced materials. Herein,why do fullerenes make good lubricants? pipette measures one fixed
Buckminsterfullerene Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Is Buckminsterfullerene Harder Than Diamond, What Is A Good Elecrical Wire Lubricant For Diy, Why Is Graphite Lubricant Better Than Molybdenum Disulphide, Why Can Boron Nitride Be Used As A Lubricant, Why Can Boron Nitride Be Used As A Lubricant 2, Get Your Body Back After Pregnancy: What Every New Mom Needs to Know, 5 Benefits of Learning Gardening with Kids at Childcare or Home, Fatty In Trouble 2: Bull Ride for Android App, KicksandKaviar Dedicated To The Urban Camper kicks, sneakers, NOISEMAKERS: Live Hip Hop Interview Series, Know Mo Mobilizing Knowledge about Addiction & Mental Health in Alberta, Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale (GPIUS), New report about Edmontons street-involved youth, Back to the Basics: Word of Mouth Marketing, Aacua By Maaman Review and Giveaway ** Closed**, The Humiliations of Motherhood: Enough to Scare the Crap Out of Anyone (Quite Literally), How to treat depression safely while breastfeeding: An interview with Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett. Fullerene, also called buckminsterfullerene, any of a series of hollow carbon molecules that form either a closed cage (buckyballs) or a cylinder (carbon nanotubes). (but) burette measures variable "There are two ways in which fullerenes could form the basis of a competitive product. Why does buck ministerfullerene act as a good lubricant, 1.30 grams of H are reacted with an excess of N to produce 4.21 grams of NH3- Suggest how the scientist could carry out Step 6 safely. He began by cutting out hexagons, about an inch on each side, from a pad of legal paper.
Why is buckminsterfullerene used as a lubricant? reacts It seems to be that the history of fullerenes research is very short. Reaction of C60 with appropriate substituted diene gives the corresponding adduct. Buckminsterfullerenes ability to trap different atoms or molecules makes them useful in the medical field. Sadly, his mathematic discoveries never escaped Euclid's "father of geometry" dominance going back to the . Buckminsterfullerene is a black solid that dissolves in hydrocarbon solvents to produce a violet solution. The scientists who vaporized the graphite to produce C60 named the new carbon allotrope buckminsterfullerene (shortened to fullerenes or buckyballs) because the geodesic domes designed by inventor and architect Buckminster Fuller provided a clue to the molecules structure. 318, 14 November 1985) describing the dramatic discovery of the first known molecular form of carbon. Taubes, The Disputed Birth of Buckyballs, p. 1477. Carbon nanotubes are very strong and light, and can act as semiconductors or conductors. Presence of free electrons contributes to the conduting electricity. These free electrons present above and below the graphene sheet are called pi () electrons and enhance the carbon-to-carbon bonds. temperature, produces H+ / hydrogen ions in Buckminsterfullerenes (C60) are spherical carbon allotropes where 60 atoms are assembled in pentagons and hexagons, in a geometry similar to a soccer ball. 2006. It can also be used as a storage for hydrogen atoms. At scientific meetings, someone was bound to ask about applications for these exotic molecules. This 24th-century science experiment may not constitute an application, but another Star Trek episode mentioned the use of C70 (a 70-atom fullerene) in a communicator.". Weak intermolecular forces exist between individual buckyballs. 1 : a substance (such as grease) capable of reducing friction, heat, and wear when introduced as a film between solid surfaces. Fullerenes can be used for drug delivery into the body, as lubricants, and as catalysts. Under various conditions a vast number of halogenated derivatives of C60 can be produced, some with an extraordinary selectivity on one or two isomers over the other possible ones. Please write clearly in block capitals. Molecules of C 60 are spherical. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. This is how they can carry drug molecules around the body and deliver them to where they are needed, and trap dangerous substances in the body and remove them. Promoting excellence in science education and outreach. Molecules of C 60 are spherical. Compared to other antioxidants, fullerene shows higher thermostability, photostability, and antioxidant activity. Why is buckminsterfullerene a good lubricant. In this case, the new product would have to be better, cheaper, less harmful to the environment or in some other way superior to what is now available. The resulting compounds (assigned the formulas [emailprotected]60) have been extensively studied. On the importance of carbon and its frequency of study, see Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Harold Kroto, Symmetry, Space, Stars and C, Smalley later wrote: To test the theory he [Kroto] wanted to reproduce the stellar conditions in the laboratory, and he knew Rice had the machinery to prove it. Smalley, Great Balls of Carbon, p. 22; Kroto describes his visit to Rice in 1984 in Kroto, C. The mechanism that makes it a bad conductor is that it has shorter range continuity than graphite. Answer in terms of structure and bonding. [49], "Buckyball" redirects here. Summary: Graphene is a single-atomic carbon sheet with a hexagonal honeycomb network. Compressed buckministersfullerene can be used as a cutting tool or hardening agent. This is how they can carry drug molecules around the body and deliver them to where they are needed, and trap dangerous substances in the body and remove them. The structures grid appeared to be entirely composed of hexagons. What is the thermal conductivity of buckminsterfullerene? [53], An experiment in 20112012 administered a solution of C60 in olive oil to rats, achieving a major prolongation of their lifespan. They are excellent conductors of heat and electricity, and they possess an astonishing tensile strength. Buckyballs are good lubricants because of their spherical shape. What is the expected daily profit if a store sells X air conditioners per day with probability f(10)=0.1, f(11)=0.3, f(12)=0.4, f(13)=0.2 and the profit per conditioner is $55? Molecules of C 60 are spherical. The DielsAlder reaction is commonly employed to functionalize C60. In the case of platinum complex, the labile ethylene ligand is the leaving group in a thermal reaction: Titanocene complexes have also been reported: Coordinatively unsaturated precursors, such as Vaska's complex, for adducts with C60: One such iridium complex, [Ir(2-C60)(CO)Cl(Ph2CH2C6H4OCH2Ph)2] has been prepared where the metal center projects two electron-rich 'arms' that embrace the C60 guest. The fullerene molecule was discovered by Richard Smalley. When an electric spark is struck between graphite electrodes, soot is produced. Conversion efficiencies up to 5.7% have been reported in C60polymer cells.[48]. The antioxidant properties of buckyballs may be able to fight the deterioration of motor function due to multiple sclerosis. A federal judge overturned a 2012 ban on the sale of the toy, meaning it's now legal to sell them in the U.S. again. Discovery of Fullerenes. Buckminsterfullerene contains twenty six-member rings and twelve five-member rings. Smalley wrote: Thus to the modern chemist a continuing study of pure carbon would seem to offer little hope for excitement. Richard Smalley, Great Balls of Carbon: The Story of Buckminsterfullerene, The Sciences (March/April 1991): 22. heat with an electric heater "The Discovery of Fullerenes" commemorative booklet produced by the National Historic Chemical Landmarks program of the American Chemical Society in 2010 (PDF). What is the use of lubricants?
(nanoparticles) have a larger Fullerene (C60), a carbon allotrope, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant activity. Kroto later wrote wrote that when Smalley tossed the paper model of twelve pentagons and twenty hexagons on a table in his office the next day, I was ecstatic and overtaken with its beauty.27 Smalley called a Bill Veech, chair of Rices mathematics department, to ask if he was familiar with the form. Are fullerenes toxic? It conducts heat and electricity. Conference proceedings of "Dusty Objects in the Universe", pp.b 8993. [50][51], To avoid the degradation by effect of light, C60 oils must be made in very dark environments, encased into bottles of great opacity, and kept in darkness, consumed under low light conditions and accompanied by labels to warn about the dangers of light for C60.
2.3.3 Graphene & Fullerenes - Save My Exams The reaction is reversible as C120 dissociates back to two C60 molecules when heated at 450K (177C; 350F). P.T. solutions that have been exposed to light could lead to developing cancer. Hexagonal rings are present but pentagonal rings are required for the cage to close. Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Corrections? Sixty carbon atoms form the shape of a ball like a football with a carbon atom at each corner of the 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. During the visit, Kroto realized that the technique might be used to simulate the chemical conditions in the atmosphere of carbon stars and so provide compelling evidence for his conjecture that the chains originated in stars. The apparatus could vaporize any material into a plasma of atoms and then be used to study the resulting clusters (aggregates of tens to many tens of atoms). The shape of fullerene,C60 resembles a soccer ball. the 1967 World Exposition in Montreal.
Why is buckminsterfullerene named after Buckminster Fuller? Fullerene (C60), a carbon allotrope, has been reported to exhibit antioxidant activity. surface area to volume ratio Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A quick search of the Internet using the keywords 'fullerene patents' returns many hits, and going to the Fullerene Patent Database leads to a list of 149 related patents awarded through 1996. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What? Buckminsterfullerene | A-level Chemistry | AQA, OCR, Edexcel. Fullerene is able to fit inside the hydrophobic cavity of HIV proteases, inhibiting the access of substrates to the catalytic site of enzyme. ACS President Joseph S. Francisco, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Sean OBrien, Harrold (Harry) Kroto, Robert Curl, and Rice University President David W. Leebron. Kagaku (Kyoto) (in Japanese). allow to evaporate / crystallise at
GCSE CHEMISTRY - What is Buckminsterfullerene? - GCSE SCIENCE A lubricant is a substance which introduced to reduce friction between surfaces in mutual contact, which ultimately reduces the heat generated when the surfaces move. Their construction roughly resembles the interlocked. The ingestion of C60 solutions that have been exposed to light could lead to developing cancer (tumors). (as) excess iodine would remain Though the free electrons are present in the molecules of Buckminsterfullerene they are held by vanderwalls forces. Both graphene and fullerene are allotrope of carbon. molecules are spherical They can act as hollow cages to trap other molecules. Updates? As indicated by the molecular formula, it is composed of 60 Carbon atoms. Why is fullerene a good lubricant? Prior to their discovery, only two well-defined allotropes of carbon were knowndiamond (composed of a three-dimensional crystalline array of carbon atoms) and graphite (composed of stacked sheets of two-dimensional hexagonal arrays of carbon atoms). Their discovery lead to a Nobel Prize in 1996. The name was chosen because the geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller provided a clue that the molecule's atoms might be arranged in the form of a hollow cage. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. 1155 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA |service@acs.org|1-800-333-9511 (US and Canada) | 614-447-3776 (outside North America), Copyright 2023 American Chemical Society. 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Vital signs are normal. - Meaning it has a low melting point and is slippery. Fullerenes, a new form of carbon nanomaterials, possess unique physical and mechanical properties that make their use as additives to liquid lubricants potentially beneficial. It is transparent. Its molecules are made up of 60 carbon atoms joined together by strong covalent bonds. Each carbon atom has three bonds. "In the early days (1990 and 1991), there was much speculation about the potential uses of fullerenes. Buckyballs are good lubricants because of their spherical shape. In addition, fullerenes have been used as a carrier for gene and drug delivery systems. The name was chosen because the geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller provided a clue that the molecules atoms might be arranged in the form of a hollow cage. The molecule buckminsterfullerene, commonly called a "buckyball," is one of three common allotropes of a familiar element. . In the aftermath of the discovery of fullerenes, a dispute arose between Smalley and Kroto over two issues: The name of the molecule and its structure.