Nano Science Additional Science GCSE Chemistry

So how big are they? Really tiny particles, nanometres across are called “nanoparticles” (1nm= 0.000,000,001) Nano particles consist of just a few hundred atoms (a human hair contains about 1,000,000 atoms)

Structure Made up of just a few hundred atoms Nano particles have a unique structure due to the way the particles are arranged. Nano particles include fullerenes, these are molecules of carbon shaped like hollow balls or closed tubes Each carbon atom forms three covalent bonds with its neighbours, leaving free electrons that can conduct electricity

Buckminsterfullerene Buckminsterfullerene is the smallest fullerene, which has 60 carbon atoms joined together in a ball-its molecular formula is C 60

Properties of nano particles All of the covalent bonds make nano structures very strong Nano tubes conduct electricity, so can be used in tiny electrical circuits, e.g. Computer circuit boards They have a huge surface area, so they could help make great industrial catalysts – individual catalyst molecules could be attached to carbon nanotubes. With nanoparticles you can build surfaces with very specific properties. That means you can use them to make sensors to detect one type of molecule and nothing else. These highly specific sensors are already being used to test water purity They are incredibly light

Current Uses of Nanoparticles Testing for water purity High factor sun cream

Potential Uses To detect chemical/biological agents in the military, e.g. Detect gas attacks before they arrive

Revision Questions Name 1 use of nanoparticles How big are nanoparticles? How many atoms does a nanoparticle contain? What is a fullerene What is the smallest fullerene What is a potential use of nanoparticles Name 2 useful properties of nanoparticles