Abstract

Chemists just lately began using the term “clusters” to refer to collections of molecules or atoms. With the discovery of fullerenes, the word “clusters” has been used frequently. For example, the terms “star cluster,” “globular cluster,” and “galaxy cluster” in astronomy, “cancer cluster,” and “genetic cluster” in biology and medicine, as well as the terms “data cluster” in computing, are not new. Chemistry adducts were recognised much earlier. The atoms or molecules that make up clusters and adducts are joined by weak van der Waals or London dispersion forces. Homogeneous clusters often contain just one type of atom or molecule. Several kinds of atoms or molecules can also find a home in clusters. The host molecule is one of the two types of molecules that make up an adduct. The IUPAC has a clear definition for both clusters and adducts. In this succinct survey, several significant phenomena of these interesting relationships that are relevant to chemical extraction, separation, and analysis as well as to nature in general are discussed.