Molecules with recognisable shapes

The discovery of new, all-carbon molecules known as fullerenes was the unexpected result of research into particles found in space. Also informally called buckyballs for their resemblance to the standard ball of association football

Cubane is a saturated hydrocarbon molecules that is extremely unstable. These two factors makes this compound a very powerful explosive

Prismane is a polycyclic hydrocarbon with the formula C₆H₆. It is an isomer of benzene but is far less stable than benzene. The atoms of the prismane molecule are arranged in the shape of a six-atomtriangular prism

Here a compound with a cute structure, the researchers that discovered the molecule called it a “sulflower”—a mash-up of sulfur and flower—for its heterocyclic structure resembling a sunflower blossom

The molecule - just over a billionth of a metre across - gets its name because its five linked rings resemble the Olympic symbol

The name Penguinone is actually derived from the compound's molecular structure which has a striking resemblance to that of a Penguin

Basketane is a polycyclic alkane with the chemical formula C₁₀H₁₂. The name is taken from its structural similarity to a basket shape

Housane is an ortho-fused bicyclic hydrocarbon. It was named "housane" because of its shape. Structurally, the molecule consists of cyclopropane fused to cyclobutane

The name NanoPutian comes from the Lilliputians that lived in the classic story Gulliver’s Travels and their size as nano means 1x10-9 metres. The NanoPutians were created as part of a chemistry education program at Rice University aimed at introducing organic chemistry and nanotechnology to young students

This is a group of molecules that resemble the ancient flying reptiles. The R groups can be altered to give different sized 'heads' or 'tails'

The double helix of DNA is, like its name implies, in the shape of a helix which is essentially a three dimensional spiral. . The double comes from the fact that the helix is made of two long strands of DNA that are intertwined—sort of like a twisted ladder

Coronene (also known as superbenzene) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Coronene has been used in the synthesis of graphene