MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Serotonin 3D model
Serotonin molecule model (C10H12N2O)
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter. It has a flat indole ring with a 5-OH group and a flexible two-carbon chain ending in an amine.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 5202).
Serotonin at a glance
| Formula | C10H12N2O |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 176.21 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 3-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol |
| Atoms / bonds | 25 / 26 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 3 / 2 |
| XLogP3 | 0.2 |
| SMILES | C1=CC2=C(C=C1O)C(=CN2)CCN |
| PubChem CID | 5202 |
What the 3D model of Serotonin shows
The model contains 25 atoms (13 heavy atoms and 12 hydrogens) joined by 26 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 2 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of 0.2 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat solubility. Its topological polar surface area is 62 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| indole ring | Planar aromatic, sp² | ≈ 120° (≈108° in the five-membered ring) |
| side-chain C and amine N | Tetrahedral / pyramidal, sp³ | ≈ 109.5° |
Is Serotonin polar?
Polar. The amine (protonated at physiological pH) and phenol OH make it water-soluble.
Elemental composition of C10H12N2O
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 10 | 120.110 | 68.16% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 12 | 12.096 | 6.86% |
| Nitrogen (N) | 2 | 28.014 | 15.90% |
| Oxygen (O) | 1 | 15.999 | 9.08% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of serotonin
- Neurotransmitter regulating mood, sleep and appetite
- Gut motility signalling (about 90% of the body's serotonin is in the gut)
- Target of SSRI antidepressants
Interesting facts
- Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan in two enzymatic steps.
- It is the precursor of melatonin.
- SSRIs block serotonin reuptake, raising its concentration in the synapse.
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 serotonin made from?
Tryptophan: it is hydroxylated to 5-hydroxytryptophan, then decarboxylated to serotonin.
What is the structure of serotonin?
An indole ring with an OH at position 5 and a CH₂CH₂NH₂ chain at position 3.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of serotonin?
Serotonin is C10H12N2O with a molar mass of 176.21 g/mol (PubChem CID 5202). It contains 25 atoms: 10 carbon, 12 hydrogen, 2 nitrogen, 1 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Serotonin?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is 3-(2-aminoethyl)-1H-indol-5-ol.
How do I make a model of Serotonin?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 25 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.