Biphenyl

Biphenyl, also known as diphenyl, is an organic compound with the formula (C₆H₅)₂, consisting of two benzene rings connected by a single covalent bond. It forms colorless crystals and has a distinctively pleasant smell. Biphenyl occurs naturally in coal tar, crude oil, and natural gas. It is notable as a starting material for the production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), though their use is now highly restricted due to toxicity. Biphenyl is also used as a heat transfer agent and as an intermediate in the production of other organic compounds like emulsifiers, optical brighteners, and crop protection products. It was formerly used as a fungicide for citrus crops.

Explore searchable catalogue of hundreds of molecules, including details on how models were generated.

Notes

• If you happen to break something, use superglue to fix it. It will make the broken part even stronger.
• I decided to go with the ball-and-stick type, as it is easiest to color, is rigid, and looks awesome.
• The model represents the major resonance contributor.
• I oriented the model for optimal strength/waste/time compromise, but if you decide to reorient it, try to avoid placing bonds along the Z-axis, as they will be very easy to break.
• Supports removable without too much worry of damaging model if you are careful with scalpel and do of paper-sanding afterwards.
• You can use PETG as support material (don't forget to set the heatbed to 70 °C!) and PLA for the model itself (the support then come off much easier). For extra swag, use PLA support filament or PVA as supports.
• Recommended colorization is based on the Corey–Pauling–Koltun (CPK) palette (Figure 1). To quickly change colors, use the settings depicted in Figure 2.
  Alternatively, if you want to save filament and time, print the model in full-white and paint it with a permanent marker.

Figure 1. Recommended palette based on CPK coloring.

Figure 2. Setting to quickly color atoms with one click.

Figure 3. Filament flushing page.

Happy printing!