What is a nano tube?

Answer 1

A nano tube is a nanometer-scale tube-like structure. (As from Wikipedia) In my words, a very small tube. A nano meter is one BILLIONTH of a meter. Really tiny. There are many types of nano tubes, such as Carbon nano-tubes, Inorganic nano-tubes, DNA nano-tubes and Membrane nano-tubes. Carbon Nano-tubes: A Carbon Nano-tube is a tube like structure that is an allotrope of Carbon. An allotropes are two structures that only differ in the way the molecules are arranged. Such as Diamonds, Graphite and Carbon Nano-tubes are all allotropes of Carbon. Carbon Nano-tubes are very good at conducting electricity Inorganic Nano-tubes: An inorganic nanotube is a cylindrical molecule often composed of metal oxides, and morphologically similar to a carbon nanotube. Inorganic nanotubes have been observed to occur naturally in some mineral deposits. (As from Wikipedia) In my own words, A molecule that is shaped like a tube is if usually made of metal oxides, and has a similar structure to a Carbon nano-tube. DNA Nano-tubes: These are a hard concept to grasp, but very simply, DNA nanotubes are somewhat similar in size and shape to carbon nanotubes, but the carbon nanotubes are stronger and better conductors, whereas the DNA nanotubes are more easily modified and connected to other structures. (As from Wikipedia) So, they are similar is size and shape to Carbon Nano-tubes, but, they are less strong and doesn't conduct electricity as well. But they are easier to modify. Membrane Nano-tubes: Membrane Nano-tubes are long and thin tubes formed from the plasma membrane that connect different animal cell. (As from Wikipedia) Or, long tubes connecting animal cells. Here is where I found this info, I suggest visiting them for more detailed information. Hope this helped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotubes http://www.futureforall.org/Nanotechnology/nanotubes.htm