--- title: Draw your first structure url: https://www.moldraw.com/docs/get-started/how-to-draw-your-first-chemical-structure-in-moldraw/ section: Get started updated: 2026-10-11 publisher: LabCanvas --- # Draw your first structure > Click the benzene ring, click the canvas, add a bond, then place an oxygen. Click Clean up and open Info to see the name, formula and weight. This guide draws phenol in six steps. ## Before you start Open the [MolDraw editor](https://www.moldraw.com/). You do not need to sign in. If the canvas has a drawing, click **Clear canvas** (the red bin) first. ## Watch the whole thing [Animation: The full walkthrough in 19 seconds. Orange rings show each click.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/draw-phenol-full-walkthrough.mp4) (Screen recording of drawing phenol in MolDraw: pick benzene, place it, add a bond, change the end to oxygen, clean up, then open Info) ## The parts of the screen ![The MolDraw editor with the ring bar, left tool rail, atom palette and canvas marked 1 to 4](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/moldraw-editor-screen-overview.webp) *The main parts of the screen. 1 Ring bar. 2 Left tool rail. 3 Atom palette. 4 Canvas.* ## Step by step 1. **Pick the benzene ring.** In the ring bar at the bottom left, click the benzene button. [Animation: Click the benzene button.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-1-pick-benzene.mp4) (Animation: the pointer clicks the benzene button in the ring bar) ![Close up of the ring bar with the benzene button marked 1](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/ring-bar-benzene-button-zoom.webp) *The benzene button in the ring bar.* 2. **Place the ring.** Click once on an empty part of the canvas. A benzene ring appears where you click. [Animation: One click places the ring.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-2-place-ring.mp4) (Animation: one click on the canvas places a benzene ring) ![A benzene ring drawn on the MolDraw canvas](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/benzene-ring-on-canvas.webp) *Your ring on the canvas.* 3. **Add a bond.** Click the single bond tool in the left rail. Then click the top atom of the ring. A new bond grows from that atom. [Animation: Pick the bond tool, then click the top atom.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-3-add-bond.mp4) (Animation: pick the single bond tool, then click the top ring atom to add a bond) ![Close up of the left rail with the single bond tool marked 1](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/single-bond-tool-left-rail-zoom.webp) *The single bond tool.* ![Benzene ring with a new single bond on the top atom, marked 2](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/bond-added-to-benzene.webp) *The new bond, marked 2.* 4. **Make it an oxygen.** Click **O** in the atom palette. Then click the free end of the new bond. The end turns into OH. [Animation: Pick O, then click the end of the bond.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-4-oxygen.mp4) (Animation: pick O in the atom palette, then click the end of the new bond) ![Close up of the atom palette with the O button marked 1](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/atom-palette-oxygen-button-zoom.webp) *The O button in the atom palette.* ![Phenol on the canvas with the OH group marked 2](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/phenol-oh-group-drawn.webp) *The OH group is now on the ring.* 5. **Tidy the drawing.** Click **Clean up** in the tools row. MolDraw fixes bond lengths and angles. [Animation: Click Clean up.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-5-clean-up.mp4) (Animation: clicking Clean up tidies the phenol drawing) ![Close up of the tools row with the Clean up button marked 1](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/cleanup-button-tools-row-zoom.webp) *The Clean up button.* ![Phenol after Clean up with even bond lengths](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/phenol-after-cleanup.webp) *Phenol after Clean up.* 6. **Check what you drew.** Press `Ctrl+A` to select all. Click **Info** at the top. The panel shows the name, formula and weight. [Animation: Select all, then click Info.](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/media/step-6-info-panel.mp4) (Animation: select all, click Info, and the molecule details panel opens showing phenol) ![MolDraw with the Info button, molecule details panel, Copy SMILES and Download marked 1 to 4](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/molecule-details-panel-phenol.webp) *1 Info. 2 Molecule details. 3 Copy SMILES. 4 Download.* ![Molecule details panel showing phenol, C6H6O, 94.11 g/mol, SMILES and InChI](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/molecule-details-panel-zoom.webp) *The details panel for phenol.* ## Save or share your structure - Your drawing saves in this browser by itself. Find it later in **My designs**. - Click **Copy SMILES** to copy the structure as text. - Click **Download** to save a PNG, SVG, PDF or MOL file. See [Download and file formats](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/import-export/how-to-export-png-svg-pdf-mol-and-cdxml-files/). > **Note:** The 3D panel on the right updates as you draw. Drag it to rotate the molecule. See [3D viewer](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/analyze/how-to-view-molecules-in-3d/). ## Faster ways to do the same thing - Type a name like *phenol* in the search box at the top. MolDraw draws it for you. - Paste a SMILES such as `Oc1ccccc1` with **Paste SMILES**. - With nothing selected, press `O` to set oxygen as the atom to place. > **Warning:** Clean up moves atoms. If you placed things by hand on purpose, press `Ctrl+Z` to undo it. ## Questions and answers **How do I draw a benzene ring in MolDraw?** Click the benzene button in the ring bar at the bottom left. Then click the canvas. **How do I change a carbon to oxygen?** Click O in the atom palette, then click the atom. You can also select the atom and type O. **How do I see the name of my structure?** Select the molecule and click Info at the top. The panel shows the name, formula and molecular weight. **Do I need to save?** No. MolDraw saves your drawing in the browser. Open it again from My designs.