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How many pentagons and hexagons make up a C60 molecule?
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fullerene
Two fullerene structures: an elongated carbon nanotube and a spherical buckminsterfullerene, or “buckyball.”
A C60 molecule, also known as buckminsterfullerene, is a hollow, spherical cage composed of 60 carbon atoms. Its structure consists of exactly:
- 12 pentagons
- 20 hexagons
This configuration creates a highly symmetrical, closed-cage design that resembles the geometry of a soccer ball or a geodesic dome.123