Science Visualized Chemistry

See the ‘periodic table’ of molecular knots

Fashioning these structures is a way for chemists to test their mettle

illustrations of molecular knots

FIT TO BE TIED  Researchers cataloged the possible types of molecular knots that can be made, including the already-synthesized trefoil knot (3-D illustration at left) and 10124 (right), which is yet to be created.

Mattia Marenda and C. Micheletti

By Emily Conover

- More than 2 years ago

Like a scouting handbook for the molecular realm, a new chart reveals how to tie molecules up in knots of increasing complexity.