---
title: "Dopamine Structure (C8H11NO2): 3D Model, Formula & Molar Mass | MolDraw"
url: https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/dopamine.html
description: "Structure of Dopamine (C8H11NO2, 153.18 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/) › Dopamine structure

# Dopamine structure and 3D model (C8H11NO2)

Dopamine is a catecholamine: a benzene ring with two neighbouring OH groups (a catechol) and a two-carbon chain ending in an NH₂ group.

**Quick answer:** Dopamine is **C8H11NO2**, molar mass **153.18 g/mol**. Flat ring with a flexible side chain; polar, and its hydrochloride salt is freely 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).

## Dopamine at a glance

| Formula | C8H11NO2 |
| --- | --- |
| Molar mass | 153.18 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol |
| Atoms / bonds | 22 / 22 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 3 / 3 |
| logP (estimated) | 0.6 |
| SMILES | `C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O` |
| InChIKey | `VYFYYTLLBUKUHU-UHFFFAOYSA-N` |
| PubChem | [681](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/681) |

![2D structural formula of Dopamine (C8H11NO2)](https://www.moldraw.com/molecules/img/dopamine.svg)

2D structure (skeletal formula) · [Draw it in MolDraw](https://www.moldraw.com/)

## What the 3D model of Dopamine shows

The model contains **22 atoms** (11 heavy atoms and 11 hydrogens) joined by **22 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 3 hydrogen bonds, and its estimated logP of 0.6 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat. Its topological polar surface area is 66 Ų.

## Shape and bond angles

| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ring carbons | Trigonal planar, sp²; planar ring | 120° |
| CH₂ carbons | Tetrahedral, sp³ | ≈ 109.5° |
| amine N | Trigonal pyramidal, sp³ | ≈ 107° |

### Is Dopamine polar?

Yes. Two phenol OH groups and an amine let it form many hydrogen bonds. At body pH the amine is protonated.

## Elemental composition of C8H11NO2

| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Carbon (C) | 8 | 96.088 | 62.73% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 11 | 11.088 | 7.24% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 1 | 14.007 | 9.14% |
| Oxygen (O) | 2 | 31.998 | 20.89% |

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 dopamine

- Neurotransmitter for movement, motivation and reward
- Given by drip in hospitals to support blood pressure
- Precursor of noradrenaline and adrenaline in the body

## Interesting facts

- Dopamine is made in the body from the amino acid tyrosine via L-DOPA.
- Loss of dopamine-producing neurons is a key feature of Parkinson's disease.
- Catechols such as dopamine oxidise in air, turning solutions pink then brown.

**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 Dopamine?

Dopamine is a catecholamine: a benzene ring with two neighbouring OH groups (a catechol) and a two-carbon chain ending in an NH₂ group. Its SMILES is C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O.

### What is a catecholamine?

A molecule with a catechol (benzene-1,2-diol) and an amine. Dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline are the main examples.

### Why can't dopamine be taken as a pill for Parkinson's?

Dopamine does not cross the blood-brain barrier, so its precursor L-DOPA (levodopa) is used instead.

### What is the chemical formula and molar mass of Dopamine?

Dopamine is C8H11NO2 with a molar mass of 153.18 g/mol. It contains 22 atoms: 8 carbon, 11 hydrogen, 1 nitrogen, 2 oxygen.

### What is the IUPAC name of Dopamine?

The IUPAC name is 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol.

### How do I draw Dopamine?

Open the MolDraw editor, paste the SMILES C1=CC(=C(C=C1CCN)O)O or type "Dopamine" in name search, and the structure is drawn for you. You can then export it as PNG, SVG, MOL or CDXML.

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