buckminsterfullerenes Definition

Buckminsterfullerenes, also known as buckyballs, are a class of molecules made up of carbon atoms arranged in a lattice of interlocking hexagons and pentagons, resembling a soccer ball or geodesic dome, with the soccer ball structure being the most common one, known as C60 (the fullerene). These molecules are named after Richard Buckminster Fuller, who designed the geodesic dome.