This is actually called a buckyball molecule! Specifically, its name is buckminsterfullerene, and it's comprised of 60 carbon molecules-- and nothing else.
(Did you notice that this exhibits an icosahedral symmetry? Try finding its point group!)
You can see exactly why this molecule made it to our blog-- it's SO symmetric, it almost looks like a perfect sphere!
(C60 fullerene solution)
This is essentially how these molecules were formed:
You can just imagine the countless properties that such a molecule would have. First of all, it's the largest molecule shown to demonstrate wave-particle duality! The discovery of this molecule actually led to a new field of chemistry, which studies JUST fullerenes!
What really intrigued us with this molecule is its attraction to each other in its solid form-- using van der Waals forces! Isn't it surprising, seeing how the molecule is so symmetric? How can they possibly attract each other and stick with each other?
Well, although the molecules are locked against rotation, with a little bit of heating the molecules quickly form face-centered cubics!
Isn't it interesting how even molecules as large and symmetric as these can still attract each other? Very interesting, huh?
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