Water
H2O
The most essential molecule for life. Water's bent shape and polarity make it an excellent solvent. Its hydrogen bonding gives it unique properties like high boiling point and surface tension.
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Compound Library
Ethanol
C2H6O
The alcohol in beverages, also used as a solvent and fuel. The hydroxyl group (-OH) makes it polar and water-soluble. Produced by yeast fermentation of sugars.
Glucose
C6H12O6
The primary energy source for cells. This ring form (glucopyranose) is the most stable structure. Essential for understanding metabolism and diabetes.
Sucrose
C12H22O11
Common table sugar, a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose linked together. Extracted from sugarcane and sugar beets.
Vitamin C
C6H8O6
An essential nutrient and antioxidant. Required for collagen synthesis and immune function. Humans cannot synthesize it and must obtain it from diet.
Dopamine
C8H11NO2
A key neurotransmitter in the brain's reward system. Plays crucial roles in motivation, pleasure, and motor control. Parkinson's disease involves dopamine neuron loss.
Serotonin
C10H12N2O
Regulates mood, sleep, and appetite. Many antidepressants work by increasing serotonin levels. Features the distinctive indole ring system.
Norepinephrine
C8H11NO3
Also called noradrenaline. Involved in the fight-or-flight response, attention, and alertness. Structurally similar to dopamine with an extra hydroxyl group.
GABA
C4H9NO2
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Reduces neuronal excitability. Benzodiazepines and alcohol enhance GABA's effects.
Acetylcholine
C7H16NO2+
Essential for muscle contraction and memory. The first neurotransmitter discovered. Has a positively charged quaternary ammonium group.
Aspirin
C9H8O4
One of the most widely used medications. Reduces pain, fever, and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2).
Ibuprofen
C13H18O2
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain and fever. Only the (S)-enantiomer is pharmacologically active.
Acetaminophen
C8H9NO2
Also known as Paracetamol. Reduces pain and fever but has minimal anti-inflammatory effects. The most common drug ingredient in the US.
Caffeine
C8H10N4O2
Found in coffee, tea, and chocolate. Blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, reducing drowsiness and increasing alertness.
Nicotine
C10H14N2
The primary addictive compound in tobacco. Binds to acetylcholine receptors, triggering dopamine release. The (S)-enantiomer is more potent.
Penicillin G
C16H18N2O4S
The first widely used antibiotic, discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928. Its beta-lactam ring disrupts bacterial cell wall synthesis.
Amoxicillin
C16H19N3O5S
A widely prescribed penicillin-type antibiotic. More acid-stable than penicillin G, allowing oral administration. Often combined with clavulanic acid.
Ciprofloxacin
C17H18FN3O3
A fluoroquinolone antibiotic that inhibits bacterial DNA synthesis. Used for urinary tract infections and respiratory infections.
Adrenaline
C9H13NO3
Also called epinephrine. The fight-or-flight hormone released by adrenal glands. Increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability.
Melatonin
C13H16N2O2
The sleep hormone produced by the pineal gland. Regulates circadian rhythms. Levels rise in darkness and fall with light exposure.
Testosterone
C19H28O2
The primary male sex hormone. An anabolic steroid that promotes muscle growth and bone density. Features the characteristic steroid four-ring structure.
Estradiol
C18H24O2
The primary female sex hormone. Essential for reproductive development and bone health. Note the aromatic A-ring compared to testosterone.
Glycine
C2H5NO2
The simplest amino acid with no side chain. The only non-chiral amino acid. Important for collagen structure and as an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Alanine
C3H7NO2
A simple amino acid with a methyl side chain. One of the most abundant amino acids in proteins. Important in the glucose-alanine cycle.
Phenylalanine
C9H11NO2
An essential amino acid with an aromatic side chain. Precursor to tyrosine and neurotransmitters. People with PKU cannot metabolize it properly.
Tryptophan
C11H12N2O2
An essential amino acid with an indole ring. Precursor to serotonin and melatonin. Often cited as causing post-meal drowsiness.
Histidine
C6H9N3O2
Contains an imidazole ring that can be protonated at physiological pH. Important in enzyme active sites. Precursor to histamine.
Morphine
C17H19NO3
A powerful opioid analgesic from opium poppies. Its complex polycyclic structure binds to opioid receptors. The template for many synthetic painkillers.
Quinine
C20H24N2O2
An antimalarial compound from cinchona tree bark. Also used to treat leg cramps and gives tonic water its bitter taste.
Curcumin
C21H20O6
The yellow pigment in turmeric. Has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The conjugated system gives it the bright yellow color.
Benzene
C6H6
The archetypal aromatic compound. Its six-membered ring with delocalized electrons is incredibly stable. The foundation of aromatic chemistry.
Toluene
C7H8
Benzene with a methyl group. A common industrial solvent. The methyl group can be oxidized to form benzoic acid.
Aniline
C6H7N
Benzene with an amino group. The parent compound for many dyes and pharmaceuticals. The nitrogen lone pair interacts with the aromatic ring.
Phenol
C6H6O
Benzene with a hydroxyl group. More acidic than alcohols due to resonance stabilization. Used as a disinfectant and in plastics production.
Urea
CH4N2O
The main nitrogen waste product in mammals. The first organic compound synthesized from inorganic materials (1828), disproving vitalism.
Cholesterol
C27H46O
Essential component of cell membranes. Precursor to steroid hormones and vitamin D. Has both good (HDL) and bad (LDL) transport forms.
Oleic Acid
C18H34O2
A monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. The main component of olive oil. The cis double bond creates a bend in the chain.
Palmitic Acid
C16H32O2
The most common saturated fatty acid. Found in palm oil, meat, and dairy. A straight chain that packs tightly, making saturated fats solid.
LSD
C20H25N3O
A powerful psychedelic that acts on serotonin receptors. Active at microgram doses. Derived from ergot alkaloids and synthesized by Albert Hofmann in 1938.
THC
C21H30O2
The main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain. Being studied for pain relief, nausea, and other conditions.
ATP
C10H16N5O13P3
The energy currency of cells. The high-energy phosphate bonds power most cellular processes. Contains adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups.
Adenine
C5H5N5
One of the four DNA bases. Pairs with thymine (in DNA) or uracil (in RNA) through two hydrogen bonds. A purine with a fused ring system.
Thymine
C5H6N2O2
One of the four DNA bases. Pairs with adenine through two hydrogen bonds. Replaced by uracil in RNA. A pyrimidine with a methyl group.
Buckminsterfullerene
C60
A spherical carbon allotrope shaped like a soccer ball. Named after architect Buckminster Fuller. Has 60 carbon atoms arranged in pentagons and hexagons.
Cyclohexane
C6H12
A six-membered ring of carbons. Exists in chair and boat conformations. The chair form is more stable with staggered hydrogens.
Cubane
C8H8
A cage compound with carbons at the corners of a cube. Highly strained with 90° bond angles instead of the ideal 109.5°. A triumph of organic synthesis.
Hydrogen Peroxide
H2O2
A simple oxidizer used as a disinfectant and bleaching agent. The O-O single bond is relatively weak, making it reactive. Decomposed by catalase in cells.
Formaldehyde
CH2O
The simplest aldehyde. Used in resins and as a preservative. Highly reactive due to the exposed carbonyl carbon. Found in smog and cigarette smoke.
Acetic Acid
C2H4O2
The acid in vinegar. A weak acid important in metabolism. The acetyl group (CH3CO-) is a key unit in biochemistry, as in acetyl-CoA.
Carbon Dioxide
CO2
A greenhouse gas and metabolic waste product. Linear and non-polar despite having polar bonds. Plants convert it to sugars via photosynthesis.