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Article: The soccer-ball molecule. (carbon atoms)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- December 3, 1988
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1988 Economist Newspaper Ltd. 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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CARBON is familiar in its guises as a girl's best friend or as humble pencil lead graphite. When carbon atoms join up to make diamonds, they form a three-dimensional lattice, in which each carbon atom holds on to four other carbon atoms around it by strong chemical bonds. In its graphite form the atoms are arranged in sheets, with the sheets stacked one on top of the other.
Carbon is also commonly found as soot. The arrangement of atoms in soot specks is not altogether clear, but some of the shapes that the atoms can make are beginning to emerge. It appears that an ordinary candle flame contains a whole family of molecules that were previously undreamt of