MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Methanol 3D model
Methanol molecule model (CH4O)
Methanol is the simplest alcohol: a methyl group joined to a hydroxyl group. Carbon is tetrahedral and oxygen is bent, and the O–H group makes methanol fully miscible with water.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 887).
Methanol at a glance
| Formula | CH4O |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 32.042 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | methanol |
| Atoms / bonds | 6 / 5 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 1 / 1 |
| XLogP3 | -0.5 |
| SMILES | CO |
| PubChem CID | 887 |
What the 3D model of Methanol shows
The model contains 6 atoms (2 heavy atoms and 4 hydrogens) joined by 5 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 -0.5 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 | Tetrahedral, sp³ | H–C–O ≈ 109.5° |
| O | Bent, sp³ (two lone pairs) | C–O–H ≈ 108.5° |
Is Methanol polar?
Polar (about 1.7 D) and able to hydrogen bond, both as a donor (O–H) and an acceptor (O lone pairs).
Elemental composition of CH4O
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 1 | 12.011 | 37.49% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 4 | 4.032 | 12.58% |
| Oxygen (O) | 1 | 15.999 | 49.93% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of methanol
- Feedstock for formaldehyde, acetic acid and MTBE
- Solvent and antifreeze (windshield washer fluid)
- Fuel and hydrogen carrier
Interesting facts
- Methanol is highly toxic: the body oxidises it to formaldehyde and formic acid, which can cause blindness.
- It used to be called "wood alcohol" because it was made by distilling wood.
- Methanol boils at 64.7 °C, much higher than ethane, because of hydrogen bonding.
Drawing structures for your notes? MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams.
Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the shape of methanol?
Carbon is tetrahedral (sp³) and oxygen is bent (two bonds plus two lone pairs), with a C–O–H angle of about 108.5°.
Is methanol polar?
Yes. The O–H and C–O bonds are polar and the shape is unsymmetrical, so methanol has a dipole and forms hydrogen bonds.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of methanol?
Methanol is CH4O with a molar mass of 32.042 g/mol (PubChem CID 887). It contains 6 atoms: 1 carbon, 4 hydrogen, 1 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Methanol?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is methanol.
How do I make a model of Methanol?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 6 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.