MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Ethanol 3D model
Ethanol molecule model (C2H6O)
Ethanol is the alcohol in drinks, hand sanitisers and biofuel. Its two-carbon chain ends in a hydroxyl group. Both carbons are tetrahedral and the oxygen is bent, so the molecule is polar but still has a non-polar ethyl end.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 702).
Ethanol at a glance
| Formula | C2H6O |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 46.07 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | ethanol |
| Atoms / bonds | 9 / 8 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 1 / 1 |
| XLogP3 | -0.1 |
| SMILES | CCO |
| PubChem CID | 702 |
What the 3D model of Ethanol shows
The model contains 9 atoms (3 heavy atoms and 6 hydrogens) joined by 8 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 1 and accept 1 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of -0.1 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat solubility. Its topological polar surface area is 20.2 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| C (×2) | Tetrahedral, sp³ | ≈ 109.5° |
| O | Bent, sp³ | C–O–H ≈ 108.5° |
Is Ethanol polar?
Polar (about 1.69 D). It mixes with water in any proportion and also dissolves many non-polar compounds.
Elemental composition of C2H6O
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 2 | 24.022 | 52.14% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 6 | 6.048 | 13.13% |
| Oxygen (O) | 1 | 15.999 | 34.73% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of ethanol
- Alcoholic beverages (made by yeast fermentation)
- Fuel additive (E10, E85) and biofuel
- Solvent, disinfectant (60–80% kills many microbes) and antiseptic
Interesting facts
- Ethanol and dimethyl ether share the formula C₂H₆O. They are structural isomers with very different properties.
- Pure ethanol boils at 78.4 °C. Water and ethanol form an azeotrope at about 95.6% ethanol.
- The liver oxidises ethanol to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid.
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Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of ethanol?
CH₃–CH₂–OH: two sp³ carbons in a chain, with an OH group on the second carbon. Its SMILES is CCO.
Is ethanol polar or nonpolar?
Polar, because of the O–H group, but its CH₃CH₂ part is non-polar. That is why it dissolves both water-soluble and oily substances.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of ethanol?
Ethanol is C2H6O with a molar mass of 46.07 g/mol (PubChem CID 702). It contains 9 atoms: 2 carbon, 6 hydrogen, 1 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Ethanol?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is ethanol.
How do I make a model of Ethanol?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 9 atoms connect, then copy it with a ball-and-stick kit: use the CPK colours shown (carbon grey or black, hydrogen white, oxygen red, nitrogen blue). For a school project, foam balls and toothpicks work well.