chemistry

MOF-5

MOF-5 is a chemistry topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand MOF-5 rather than just read about it. In short: MOF-5 or IRMOF-1 is a cubic metal–organic framework compound with the formula Zn4O(BDC)3, where BDC2− = 1,4-benzodicarboxylate (MOF-5). It was first synthesized in the lab of Omar M.

Key takeaways

MOF-5 belongs to chemistry; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect MOF-5 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of MOF-5 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

MOF-5 or IRMOF-1 is a cubic metal–organic framework compound with the formula Zn4O(BDC)3, where BDC2− = 1,4-benzodicarboxylate (MOF-5). It was first synthesized in the lab of Omar M. Yaghi. MOF-5 is notable for exhibiting one of the highest surface area to volume ratios among metal–organic frameworks, at 2200 m2/cm3. Additionally, it was the first metal–organic framework studied for hydrogen gas storage. Yaghi's work on MOF-5 is partially responsible for his 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with MOF-5

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what MOF-5 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In chemistry, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to MOF-5 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about MOF-5 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of MOF-5

In research: MOF-5 appears in chemistry research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses MOF-5 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: MOF-5 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Materials science stubs, Metal-organic frameworks, Zinc complexes, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for MOF-5 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study MOF-5 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what MOF-5 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain MOF-5 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is MOF-5 in simple terms?

MOF-5 or IRMOF-1 is a cubic metal–organic framework compound with the formula Zn4O(BDC)3, where BDC2− = 1,4-benzodicarboxylate (MOF-5). It was first synthesized in the lab of Omar M.

Why does MOF-5 matter?

Because it connects several chemistry ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study MOF-5?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on MOF-5.