What type of molecular structure does buckminsterfullerene (C60) have, leading to a low melting point?

Buckminsterfullerene, or C60, possesses a simple molecular structure. This type of structure consists of discrete molecules held together by relatively weak intermolecular forces, specifically van der Waals forces. Due to these weak forces, less energy is required to overcome them, resulting in a low melting point for buckminsterfullerene.

In addition, the arrangement of carbon atoms in C60 forms a spherical shape, akin to a soccer ball, which contributes to the overall molecular simplicity. Each C60 molecule is covalently bonded internally, but the molecules themselves do not share those bonds with one another in a networked fashion, as seen in other structures like giant covalent lattices.

In contrast, giant ionic structures, metallic structures, and giant covalent structures involve strong interactions between particles, such as ionic bonds or strong metallic bonds, which require significantly more energy to break. These interactions result in higher melting points for materials with those types of structures.