Riddle No. 22

[Carl]

There are many forms in which I can be,
Only some you'll ever see,
Of great interest are sixty of me,
And similar types to this form of me.

If you put me in a metal band,
Some day you just may have their hand,
Even though it might look grand,
It might not be the best in all the land.

You probably see me every day,
In this form I am quite grey,
But unlike what I technically am today,
I can be used in a very different way.

Finally meet me in a particular form,
One of the strongest, above the norm,
You probably won't see me in this form,
I can even withstand a storm.

What am I ?


Answer will be provided next Thursday evening after 21:00.

[Carl]

ANSWER

Carbon.

The first verse refers to buckminster-fullerene, C60, and other similar fullerenes, such as C70.
The second verse refers to diamond in a ring. 'Their hand' means someone's hand in marriage.
The third verse refers to graphite, which, unlike other non-metals, conducts electricity so it can be used like a metal could.
The fourth verse refers to carbon nanotubes, one of the strongest materials known to science.