MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Cortisol structure
Cortisol structure and 3D model (C21H30O5)
Cortisol (hydrocortisone) is a steroid hormone with the four fused steroid rings, a conjugated enone in ring A and three OH groups. Its side chain at C17 is a hydroxy ketone.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: computed with RDKit (ETKDG conformer, force-field optimised).
Cortisol at a glance
| Formula | C21H30O5 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 362.47 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | (8S,9S,10R,11S,13S,14S,17R)-11,17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one |
| Atoms / bonds | 56 / 59 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 3 / 5 |
| logP (estimated) | 1.8 |
| SMILES | C[C@]12CCC(=O)C=C1CC[C@@H]3[C@@H]2[C@H](C[C@]4([C@H]3CC[C@@]4(C(=O)CO)O)C)O |
| InChIKey | JYGXADMDTFJGBT-VWUMJDOOSA-N |
| PubChem | 5754 |
What the 3D model of Cortisol shows
The model contains 56 atoms (26 heavy atoms and 30 hydrogens) joined by 59 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 3 and accept 5 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 1.8 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 95 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring carbons (sp³) | Tetrahedral, sp³; chair-shaped 6-rings | ≈ 109.5° |
| C3 ketone and C4=C5 alkene | Trigonal planar, sp²; conjugated enone | ≈ 120° |
| C20 ketone carbon | Trigonal planar, sp² | ≈ 120° |
Is Cortisol polar?
Moderately. Three OH groups and two C=O groups add polarity, but the large hydrocarbon frame keeps its water solubility low.
Elemental composition of C21H30O5
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 21 | 252.231 | 69.59% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 30 | 30.240 | 8.34% |
| Oxygen (O) | 5 | 79.995 | 22.07% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of cortisol
- Main stress hormone made by the adrenal glands
- Used as the drug hydrocortisone in creams and injections
- Measured in blood or saliva to test adrenal function
Interesting facts
- Cortisol has seven stereocentres in its ring system.
- Edward Kendall, Philip Hench and Tadeus Reichstein shared the 1950 Nobel Prize for work on adrenal hormones including cortisone.
- Cortisol levels follow a daily rhythm, highest soon after waking.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of Cortisol?
Cortisol (hydrocortisone) is a steroid hormone with the four fused steroid rings, a conjugated enone in ring A and three OH groups. Its side chain at C17 is a hydroxy ketone. Its SMILES is C[C@]12CCC(=O)C=C1CC[C@@H]3[C@@H]2[C@H](C[C@]4([C@H]3CC[C@@]4(C(=O)CO)O)C)O.
Is cortisol the same as hydrocortisone?
Yes. Hydrocortisone is the name used when cortisol is given as a medicine.
What is the difference between cortisol and cortisone?
Cortisone has a C=O at C11 where cortisol has an OH. The body interconverts the two with enzymes.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Cortisol?
Cortisol is C21H30O5 with a molar mass of 362.47 g/mol. It contains 56 atoms: 21 carbon, 30 hydrogen, 5 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Cortisol?
The IUPAC name is (8S,9S,10R,11S,13S,14S,17R)-11,17-dihydroxy-17-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-10,13-dimethyl-2,6,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16-decahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one.
How do I draw Cortisol?
Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C[C@]12CCC(=O)C=C1CC[C@@H]3[C@@H]2[C@H](C[C@]4([C@H]3CC[C@@]4(C(=O)CO)O)C)O or type "Cortisol" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.