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cubane

cubane

9.9
A small chemical made of eight carbon atoms in a cube shape used in research
  • noun
  • /ˈkjuːbeɪn/
  • Specialized
: cubano
  • Scientists have synthesized a new compound based on cubane to improve drug delivery systems.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered that cubane derivatives exhibit unique properties in pharmaceutical applications.

  • In their experiment, the team used cubane as a model to study molecular stability.

  • Researchers are only beginning to understand cubane's oxidation states using crystallography and spectroscopy (see J.-Z. Wu et al., ref. 6).

    Academic text (2004)
  • The basic constituent of the catalyst that splits water during photosynthesis is cubane (top) — clusters of manganese and oxygen.

    Academic text (2004)

Surface Forms

cubane singular
cubanes plural

Morphology

cubane = cube (semi-transparent) = cube + ane

Formed from 'cube' + the chemical suffix '-ane'; 'cube' is obvious but '-ane' is technical, so learners won't infer the full meaning (a specific hydrocarbon) without chemistry knowledge.

Etymology

Cubane comes from cube and the chemical ending -ane, so the word points to a 'cube' shape. That's why cubane is a molecule with eight carbon atoms arranged like a cube, and the -ane ending—seen in words like methane—helps you remember it is a carbon-based molecule.