tyroscene

Looks pretty complex to me I really appreciate your willingness to share your considerable knowledge on this, hypervalent. I'll watch for any further comments you may have.

I agree, it can be quite difficult to convey useful scientific information to lay readers without lapsing into jargon. (I think that's the reason many people get frustrated with science writing!) In this case I am writing about the postage stamp, and trying to explain (in a few words) the significance of the chemical formulas the designer chose for the illustration. PET is easy; the other two are harder to summarize. Maybe "Organic molecules with complex ring structures"?

Perhaps the best way to characterize it for a non-scientist would be "a complex organic compound with benzene rings"?

Thanks so much for your hypervigilance, hypervalent I! Of course, as happens so often, a good answer leads to more questions. When you say "the other molecule is 1,3,5,7-tetramethyladamantane ," are you referring to the ball-and-stick model? (if so, wow! - what is it used for?) Can you confirm my notion that the vertical one (structural formula) represents PET? And if the horizontal formula can't be exactly specified with a common name, is it possible to characterize it more generally (e.g. "a polymer with single and linked benzene rings"?) Thanks again for your insight!

Can anyone identify the molecule (functional group?) shown horizontally on this new US postage stamp? I believe the vertical one is Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). (The stamp is "Science" from the "STEM" issue of April 6, 2018.)