Buckyballs and the stuff of superatoms
As a degreed chemist, I casually follow chemistry breakthroughs and the latest theories in that field and physics, and there have been many of late. I was therefore not terribly surprised to learn that the Periodic Table of the Elements, the Holy Writ of chemistry, may soon undergo a major revision.
Not surprised, mind you, but dismayed. Do you know how long it took me to memorize the damned thing? Besides, the table is a comforting thing, a simple guide that takes the seemingly chaotic universe of matter and magically transforms it into predictable regularity, with each atom happily in its place and contentedly grouped with its own family members. Well, all that may come to an end.
It appears that recent studies have shown that special clusters of atoms behave in unexpected ways, and do not follow the predictability afforded by the periodic table. For example, a cluster of 13 aluminum atoms behaves exactly like a single atom member of the halogen group...for those of you in Okeechobee County, that would be elements like iodine and chlorine. These special clusters are now being called "Superatoms." The most bizarre aspect of superatoms is that certain elements form stable clusters using the exact same number of atoms - every time. Another superatom example would be a "Buckyball," a football-shaped cluster containing exactly 60 atoms of carbon (named for Buckminster Fuller).
So what does this all mean and what does it do for me? Well, perhaps nothing to some of you. But the most important aspect of superatoms is that when they combine with another element (as two single yet different atoms do naturally - think sodium and chlorine, or common salt) they form entirely new chemicals previously unknown to man. Now think a minute...think of all the ways that chemical compounds affect your daily life, from what you wear to what you drive to how you heat your home to how your food is packaged and processed.
This discovery may open up an entirely new and better world for us all, and will certainly open up an entirely new field of study - the significance and impact of superatoms may be profound. The only problem is, B2 has to memorize another damned periodic table.