1996 Chemistry Nobel Prize
Robert F. Curl, Harold W. Kroto, Richard E. Smalley
Biographies
What Did They Do?
- These scientists discovered the existence of small carbon balls called fullerenes.
- Before these fullerenes were discovered (especially C60), no carbon arrangement was found that was so symmetrical.
- These fullerenes closely resemble the shape of a buckyball, or soccer ball.
- They are formed in a lab, when carbon becomes a vapor, mixes with helium, and then is cooled to a temperature of absolute zero.
- The experiment to discover these fullerenes took place over 11 days in 1985 at Rice University.
Robert F. Curl
- Born- August 23, 1933 (Alice, TX)
- Died- N/A
- Education- Rice University, UC Berkeley
- Place of Work- Rice University
- Scientific Field- organic chemistry, structural chemistry
- Interesting Fact #1- He decided to become a chemist at 9 years old after receiving his first chemistry set, and never strayed from that decision.
- Interesting Fact #2- Much of the reason Robert decided to go to Rice was that it charged no tuition fee when he went, and would not have been able to afford a college that did.
Harold W. Kroto
- Born- October 7, 1939 (Wisbech, UK)
- Died- N/A
- Education- University of Sheffield
- Place of Work- University of Sussex-Brighton
- Scientific Field- organic chemistry, structural chemistry
- Interesting Fact #- His last name was Krotoschiner until his father changed it to Kroto, which some people thought was Japanese.
- Interesting Fact #2- He got interested in chemistry after using a gas blowpipe to blow lead in a lesson with Dr. Wilf Jary.
Richard E. Smalley
- Born- June 6, 1943 (Akron, OH)
- Died - October 28, 2005 (Houston, TX)
- Education- Hope College, University of Michigan, Princeton
- Place of Work- Rice University
- Scientific Field- Organic Chemistry, Structural Chemistry
- Interesting Fact #1- His desire to pursue chemistry mainly came from his mother's shared interest in it, as well as the launch of the Sputnik in 1957.
- Interesting Fact #2- His career was jumpstarted by the fact that he and his sister finished the top two in their class in high school, and moved around frequently to conduct scientific research.
Why Did They Win?
- The biggest reason these chemists won was the fact that they discovered a perfectly symmetrical molecule, which could be extensively researched for its properties.
- Applications include being used in technology devices, pharmaceuticals, energy, and even HIV drugs and moisturizers.
- Helped solve the mystery of how large quantities of carbon atoms were arranged, as well as dismissing previous misconceptions.
- Overall, this discovery challenged previous knowledge by changing many scientists' viewpoints on how carbon molecules and others are formed.
- In the future, it will also be possible to produce extremely conductive salts of C60, as well as solve the problem of how carbon forms around the globe.
An Interesting Interview with Robert Curl and Harold Kroto
Curl and Kroto: A look back at the discovery of C60 and the Nobel Prize