In order to work more on the scale of Nanotechnology and Nanoshapes we made models of buckeyballs. Also in the Nanoscience, Activities for Grades 6-12 Book by M Gail Jones et al, page 27. We first discussed carbon bonds and how strong they are. We saw Buckeyball: Tiny Carbon Soccer Balls from Youtube:
We discussed high surface area to volume ratio and why that is important for chemical reactions, and how it might have applications for; environmental sensors, drug delivery and other things. We did discuss each buckeyball was; 60 carbon atoms, 32 faces, 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons. We drew hexagons and pentagons on white boards and also what the face of a geometric shape was. We also discussed but did not make Nanotubes and how they are used in nanotechnology, including their unique electrical properties which could be used in electronic circuits. We also read in Cool Science Nanotechnology pages 12-17.
