Adamantane is a colorless, crystalline
chemical compound with a
camphor-like odor. With a formula C
10H
16, it is a
cycloalkane and also the simplest
diamondoid. Adamantane molecules consist of four connected
cyclohexane rings arranged in the "armchair" configuration. It is unique in that it is both rigid and virtually stress-free. A boat-shaped configuration can also exist. Adamantane is the most stable among all the isomers with formula C
10H
16, which include the somewhat similar
twistane. The spatial arrangement of
carbon atoms in adamantane molecule is the same as in the
diamond crystal. This motivates the name
adamantane, which is derived from the Greek
adamantinos (relating to
steel or
diamond).