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Article: Molecule impossible: Jonathan Goodman investigates which is the simplest alkane that cannot be made.
- Article from:
- Chemistry and Industry
- Article date:
- March 21, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Society of Chemical Industry. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In Brief
* Some molecules that appear to be simple are impossible to make
* Synthesis gets harder as the molecule size increases
* Some superficially simple molecules are inaccessible
* The simplest alkane that will never be made is a small molecule
Nobody knows how many different molecules it is possible to make, The number is very large, but finite. Most medicines are small molecules, and pharmaceuticals companies are trying hard to find new molecules that will cure diseases. How many different molecules will need to be investigated before everything has been tried? Is this number so large that it may be considered infinite ...