Buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) — Properties, Uses & Safety

Overview

Buckminsterfullerene (C60) is a remarkable allotrope of carbon with a molar mass of 720.64 g/mol, consisting of exactly 60 carbon atoms arranged in a hollow, cage-like structure resembling a soccer ball. The molecule features 12 pentagonal and 20 hexagonal faces — the same geometry as an icosahedron — and is named after architect Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes share this structural pattern. Discovered in 1985 by Harold Kroto, Robert Curl, and Richard Smalley, buckminsterfullerene earned them the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and launched the era of nanotechnology and nanomaterials science. At standard conditions, C60 appears as a black or dark brown powder with a metallic luster. It is sparingly soluble in most solvents but dissolves in aromatic solvents like toluene, producing a distinctive magenta solution. Buckminsterfullerene carries no significant GHS hazard codes, though nanoparticle safety research is ongoing. Each carbon atom in C60 is sp2 hybridized and bonded to three neighbors, similar to graphite, but the curvature introduces strain that gives fullerenes unique chemical reactivity. C60 can accept up to six electrons, making it an excellent electron acceptor in organic solar cells and electronic devices. It also forms endohedral fullerenes — molecules trapped inside the carbon cage — with potential applications in drug delivery and medical imaging. For chemistry students, buckminsterfullerene is a captivating introduction to carbon allotropy, molecular symmetry, and nanoscience. Comparing C60 with diamond, graphite, and graphene illustrates how the same element can form dramatically different structures with vastly different properties — a core concept in chemistry. The discovery story itself teaches the scientific method, as C60 was first detected in mass spectrometry experiments simulating conditions in carbon-rich stars, demonstrating how curiosity-driven research can lead to transformative discoveries.

IUPAC Name

(C60-Ih)[5,6]fullerene

CAS Number

99685-96-8

PubChem CID

123591

Molecular Formula

C₆₀

Molar Mass

720.642 g/mol

State at STP

solid

Appearance

Black or dark brown powder with metallic luster