Question

What is Fullerene? Give its occurrence and uses.

Answer 1

Fullerene, a molecule composed of carbon atoms that form a hollow, cagelike structure. The arrangement of the atoms produces pentagonal and hexagonal shapes—that is, shapes with five or six sides, respectively. Because of the structure's similarity to that of a geodesic dome, the molecules were named after the originator of such domes, R. Buckminster Fuller. A fullerene with 60 atoms appears almost spherical, and it has been nicknamed a buckminsterfullerene, or buckyball. The smallest type of fullerene contains 23 atoms.

The uses of Buckminsterfullerene are as follows :

1) It can be used for the synthesis for hydrogen fuel as it has the ability to bind many hydrogen atoms with each other.

2) It has uses in the field of medicine as helium infused in buckyballs are used as a tracers, which can be used for the detection and diagnosis of diseases.

3) It can be used as a lubricant and semi-conductor.