Question

While researching interstellar matter, scientists discovered that 60 carbons could be bonded together in a structure they named Buckminsterfullerene. Scientists worked with models until they found a shape resembling a soccer ball. The model these scientists constructed can be seen below. What function does this model serve in science?

Answer 1

So, based on the given information, scientists were capable of using models to represent the shape of the structure. The shape resembled a soccer ball.
However, scientists were not able to represent color, size, bonding or chemical structure of the molecules, they only resembled the shape of the submicroscopic matter.

Based on the above, the function this model served in science is:
The model presents a visual picture of submicroscopic matter.