--- title: "Cortisol Structure (C21H30O5): 3D Model, Formula & Molar Mass | MolDraw" url: https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/cortisol.html description: "Structure of Cortisol (C21H30O5, 362.47 g/mol): rotatable 3D model, 2D skeletal formula, IUPAC name, SMILES, shape, polarity, uses and FAQ." lang: en publisher: Scidart Academy generated: 2026-10-26 --- [MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) › [3D molecule models](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/) › 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. **Quick answer:** Cortisol is **C21H30O5**, molar mass **362.47 g/mol**. Long, fairly flat steroid skeleton with polar groups at both ends; only slightly soluble in water. Atom labels Hydrogens Spin 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](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5754) | ![2D structural formula of Cortisol (C21H30O5)](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/img/cortisol.svg) 2D structure (skeletal formula) · [Draw it in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/) ## 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](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/molar-mass-calculator.html). ## 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. **Drawing structures for your notes?** MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams. [Open MolDraw editor](https://www.moldraw.com/) ## Frequently 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. 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