Carbon Rapture

CARBON RAPTURE contains three pieces which represent the three iconic forms in which pure carbon exists: diamond, graphite and Buckminsterfullerene. The exhibition aims to engage the public in the beauty, fun and awesome power of chemistry.

Diamond
The largest model of diamond in the world containing 31,395 crystal clear balls representing the carbon atoms. A real diamond containing 31,395 atoms would be less than one billionth of a carat, invisible to the eye and worth less than a penny.

Graphite
This graphite electrode, used in electric arc steel making, is one of the largest pieces of synthetic graphite manufactured in the UK.  This single piece contains about 48 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 (48 octillion) carbon atoms.

Buckminsterfullerene
Only discovered in 1985 this Nobel Prize winning form of carbon started the nanotechnology revolution.  It is made up of hexagons and pentagons in a similar form to a traditional football.

CARBON RAPTURE was on display at the RSC's Burlington House in July and August 2009 then at the British Science Festival in September 2009 before finding a home in Trentham Gardens.

Harry Kroto rapture rapture rapture
Prof. Sir Harry Kroto, co-winner of the 1996 Nobel Prize for Chemistry pictured with Buckminsterfullerene at Burlington House.

Joint sponsors of the exhibition are the Royal Society of Chemistry, EPSRC, Molymod, UK-CG, Complete Fabrication, makeitmolecular.com and Keele University.