MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Vanillin 3D model
Vanillin molecule model (C8H8O3)
Vanillin is the main flavour molecule of vanilla. It is a benzene ring carrying an aldehyde (CHO), a methoxy (OCH₃) and a hydroxyl (OH) group: 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 1183).
Vanillin at a glance
| Formula | C8H8O3 |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 152.15 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde |
| Atoms / bonds | 19 / 19 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 1 / 3 |
| XLogP3 | 1.2 |
| SMILES | COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C=O)O |
| PubChem CID | 1183 |
What the 3D model of Vanillin shows
The model contains 19 atoms (11 heavy atoms and 8 hydrogens) joined by 19 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 3 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of 1.2 means it is fairly balanced between water and fat solubility. Its topological polar surface area is 46.5 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring carbons | Trigonal planar, sp²; planar aromatic ring | 120° |
| aldehyde C | Trigonal planar, sp² | ≈ 120° |
Is Vanillin polar?
Polar and moderately water-soluble (about 10 g/L). The phenol OH can donate hydrogen bonds.
Elemental composition of C8H8O3
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 8 | 96.088 | 63.15% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 8 | 8.064 | 5.30% |
| Oxygen (O) | 3 | 47.997 | 31.55% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of vanillin
- Most widely used flavouring (ice cream, chocolate, baking)
- Fragrances
- Intermediate for some drugs (e.g. L-DOPA syntheses)
Interesting facts
- Natural vanilla extract contains only about 1–2% vanillin by dry weight. Most vanillin is synthetic.
- Synthetic vanillin is made from guaiacol or lignin.
- Vanillin contains three functional groups: aldehyde, ether and phenol.
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 functional groups are in vanillin?
An aldehyde (–CHO), an ether (–OCH₃) and a phenol (–OH) on a benzene ring.
Is vanillin planar?
Its benzene ring and attached aldehyde are essentially planar (all sp²). Only the methyl hydrogens stick out.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of vanillin?
Vanillin is C8H8O3 with a molar mass of 152.15 g/mol (PubChem CID 1183). It contains 19 atoms: 8 carbon, 8 hydrogen, 3 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Vanillin?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde.
How do I make a model of Vanillin?
Rotate the interactive model above to see how its 19 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.