MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Adenine structure
Adenine structure and 3D model (C5H5N5)
Adenine is a purine base: a six-membered pyrimidine ring fused to a five-membered imidazole ring, with an NH₂ group at C6. It pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Adenine at a glance
| Formula | C5H5N5 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 135.13 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 7H-purin-6-amine |
| Atoms / bonds | 15 / 16 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 2 / 4 |
| logP (estimated) | -0.1 |
| SMILES | C1=NC2=NC=NC(=C2N1)N |
| InChIKey | GFFGJBXGBJISGV-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| PubChem | 190 |
What the 3D model of Adenine shows
The model contains 15 atoms (10 heavy atoms and 5 hydrogens) joined by 16 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 2 and accept 4 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of -0.1 means it is very water-loving (hydrophilic). Its topological polar surface area is 80 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring atoms | Trigonal planar, sp²; fused aromatic rings | ≈ 108–128° |
| exocyclic NH₂ | Near-planar, conjugated with the ring | ≈ 120° |
Is Adenine polar?
Yes. Its ring nitrogens accept hydrogen bonds and the NH₂ and ring N–H donate them. Strong stacking in the solid keeps its water solubility low.
Elemental composition of C5H5N5
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 5 | 60.055 | 44.44% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 5 | 5.040 | 3.73% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 5 | 70.035 | 51.83% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of adenine
- One of the four bases in DNA and RNA
- Part of ATP, NAD and coenzyme A
- Used in cell culture media and research
Interesting facts
- Adenine pairs with thymine through two hydrogen bonds.
- It has been formed in experiments from hydrogen cyanide, and has been found in meteorites.
- Adenine was once called vitamin B4, but it is no longer considered a vitamin.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Adenine?
Adenine is a purine base: a six-membered pyrimidine ring fused to a five-membered imidazole ring, with an NH₂ group at C6. It pairs with thymine in DNA and uracil in RNA. Its SMILES is C1=NC2=NC=NC(=C2N1)N.
Is adenine a purine or a pyrimidine?
A purine. Purines (adenine, guanine) have two fused rings; pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, uracil) have one.
How many hydrogen bonds does adenine form with thymine?
Two: one from its NH₂ group and one to its ring nitrogen N1.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Adenine?
Adenine is C5H5N5 with a molar mass of 135.13 g/mol. It contains 15 atoms: 5 carbon, 5 hydrogen, 5 nitrogen.
What is the IUPAC name of Adenine?
The IUPAC name is 7H-purin-6-amine.
How do I draw Adenine?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C1=NC2=NC=NC(=C2N1)N or type "Adenine" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.