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What are Bucky Balls?
Bucky balls are an interesting new kind of carbon molecule. They first came to light by scientists in the year 1985. They are among the most popular molecules that display particle-wave duality. That is, they can behave as waves or particles simultaneously.


There are many ways they can vibrate. They can reach at most 100,000,000,000,000 quantum states vibration when they are heated. This is a remarkable record for any molecular and it's nearly unbelievable the possibilities of combinations.


The molecules have been observed in impact craters, meteorites as well as in material struck by lightning. They also are found in other elements and rocks on Earth, indicating that they've been in existence for a long time.


The chemistry that underlies these strange molecules is a bit complicated and the group of scientists who came across these molecules are trying to discover the secrets behind them. But the simplest explanation is that they are spherical carbon atoms that are formed in an irregular pattern that is remarkably similar to geodesic domes.



Their unique design is a result of a technique called spin-coating. It is a process where carbon atoms contained in a single molecule are manipulated to form cage-like structures. These cages are then shaped into pentagons or hexagons.


In this method it is the case that a small amount carbon vapor is heated up to temperatures of between minus 200 and minus 300 degrees Celsius that cause the atoms of carbon to spin on their own spin. As the vapor cools it becomes a liquid called helium.


The vapor then melts to form a very stable structure that is able to withstand harsh conditions of space. It is also very conductor. This is why scientists use it in experiments to test tiny wires, transistors and other electronic devices.


A few scientists have suggested the sphere-like shape of buckyballs might be an ideal storage and transportation method for radioactive materials, potentially making them an important element of medical treatment for cancer patients. Since radioactive substances can be trapped and retained inside a hollow cage it is feasible to keep them in buckyballs.


Additionally, the design of these molecules makes them a fascinating possibility for capturing, and then delivering drugs to specific organs and tissues. Because these molecules can bind to specific atomsand molecules, they can be a powerful and efficient way to distribute drugs to cells that have been attacked by bacteria or viruses as well as to the lung of patients who suffer from lung diseases.


Similar to the previous study the team of chemical engineers at Rice University has found that the buckyballs treated with a chemical bind to and eliminate metal particles from other solutions and water which preserves the metals for use in the future. This approach could help lessen the environmental damage caused by mining and hydraulic fracturing, which is a process that makes use of high-pressure fluids to break up the shale rock used for extraction of gas and oil.


Chemists are working on many different applications for these elusive molecules. To create a powerful battery the first idea is to place fluorine and lithium (atoms that create energy when they are combined) inside a buckyball. Another option is to dope silicon with foreign atoms, which convert it into semiconductors that are the basis of electronic devices like transistors. And if the molecule can be infused with different types of atoms it may be a potential drug delivery system or an anti-cancer treatment.

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