Molecule viewer

Molecule viewer

Choose an example or search a name, molecular formula or PubChem CID. Use SMILES: CCO for ethanol, or choose the input type in Options. A molecular formula does not specify bonds or stereochemistry: C2H6O can mean ethanol or dimethyl ether. Choose the intended result. Names and SMILES are looked up in PubChem; this is not an arbitrary SMILES-to-3D generator.

Explore and measure

Drag to rotate. Pinch, use the zoom buttons or hold Ctrl/⌘ while scrolling to zoom. Options offer four display styles, hydrogen and labels, file import, image/structure export, and distance (2 atoms), angle (3) and signed torsion (4). Click atoms in order or use the atom list and Select atom. A new selection starts after the required number. Coordinates and distances use Å.

Sources and limits

PubChem 3D conformers are computed coordinate models, not experimental measurements or folding simulations. When no 3D record exists, a clearly marked 2D record is shown. Measurements describe the displayed coordinates; planar records do not provide meaningful 3D geometry. File import supports the first model, 2 MB and 2000 atoms; inferred bonds (e.g. XYZ/PDB) may be approximate. Hydrogen toggles visibility, it does not add missing atoms. Space-filling radii are conventional van der Waals radii. Surface shape is not electron density.

Search text is sent to PubChem only when you search. Examples are bundled locally. Imported files stay in your browser and are not saved in browser storage. WebGL rendering uses 3Dmol.js (BSD).