Making a C60, Bucky Ball, Buckminsterfullerene model

C60 model steps

Step 1. un-pack the parts and separate the straws.


C60 model steps

Step 2. connect five black 'atoms' with five of the straws (use the colour straws that you have the most of for this)


C60 model steps

Step 3. Join the 5th straw into the last black atom so that you make up a pentagon - 5 sided - shape (you will have to bend them as they want to make a hexagon). Be careful here - don't make up hexagons (6 sides).


C60 model steps

Step 4. Make up 12 separate pentagons


C60 model steps

Step 5. After you have made up the 12 pentagons start to join them up using the 5 spare 'connections' on each pentagon. Use the other colour straws for this.


C60 model steps

Step 6. Connect five pentagons around a central pentagon to form a sort of star.


C60 model steps

Step 7. Then continue to add straws to connect the five outer pentagons with each other. This will make the structure start to curve-up to form a bowl shape. It is half the Bucky Ball.


C60 model steps

Step 8. make up two of these bowl shapes. Each should have 6 pentagons and 5 hexagons.


C60 model steps

Step 9. Start to join-up these two halves of the ball with more straws. They need to go together correctly. Make sure that when you have added just two more straws, that a hexagon is formed NOT a square or an octagon (8 sides) ! Dont go any further until you are happy that this is so.


C60 model steps

Step. 10. Continue to add straws to join up the model.


C60 model steps

Step 11. ... the last straw to go in.


C60 model steps

Step 12. The completed C60, Bucky Ball, or Buckminsterfullerene model - well done !

return to C60 page

return to 'Things to Make' page

link to the 'Cochranes of Oxford' model kits (as used above) site






THE CREATIVE SCIENCE CENTRE

Dr Jonathan Hare, The University of Sussex
Brighton, East Sussex. BN1 9QJ.

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