/oss/taxonomy/term/969/all en /oss/article/history-science-science-everywhere-you-asked/what-link-between-diamond-graphite-and-buckyballs <p>They are all composed only of carbon. What determines the properties of any substance? Simple. The properties of any substance depend on the type and number of atoms they are composed of, and of course on how those atoms are joined together. Water and hydrogen peroxide, for example, are both composed only of hydrogen and oxygen, but a molecule of hydrogen peroxide has two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms while water of course has two hydrogens and one oxygen. So even though they have the same components, they have dramatically different properties.</p> Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:50:42 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1917 at /oss