The Greeks had a word for it

In Ancient Greece the regular polyhedra symbolised the different elements, earth, air, fire, water, and the universe. The cube was the symbol of earth and the icosahedron the symbol of water. The form of C₆₀ (and a soccer ball) can be derived from an icosahedron in which the corners have been cut off - a truncated icosahedron.


icosahedron	truncated icosahedron	European football

Graphite and diamond - soft and hard

Graphite is soft and black and the stable, common form of carbon. Diamond is hard and transparent and the unusual form of carbon. In diamond each carbon atom is bound to four other carbon atoms in a regular repetitive pattern. The density is 3.51 g/cm³. In graphite the carbon atoms are located at the corners of regular and fused hexagons arranged in parallel layers. Its density is considerably lower, 2.26 g/cm³.


Graphite	Diamond