Glucose Molecule in 3D: C₆H₁₂O₆ Structure and Facts
Glucose is the sugar that living things use for energy. Plants make it from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight, and our cells break it down to release energy. In Molecule Studio you can spin the glucose molecule, zoom in on each atom and measure its bonds.
Explore in 3DGlucose quick facts
| Chemical formula | C₆H₁₂O₆ |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 180.16 g/mol |
| Atoms in one molecule | 24 |
| Shape | Six-membered ring (in water) |
| Group | Food |
What is glucose used for?
- Energy for the body
- Sports drinks and medicine
- Making other sugars and starch
Interesting facts about glucose
- Plants make glucose by photosynthesis.
- In water it mostly forms a ring of five carbons and one oxygen.
- Starch and cellulose are long chains of glucose.
- Blood carries glucose to every cell.
What you can do in 3D
Turn the molecule to see it from every side, switch between ball and stick, space filling and wire views, and tap atoms to measure bond lengths and angles.
More food molecules
Glucose questions
What is the formula of glucose?
C6H12O6.
How do plants make glucose?
By photosynthesis, using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
Why do we need glucose?
Cells break it down to release energy.
What is made from glucose?
Starch, cellulose and glycogen are all long chains of glucose.
Molecule Studio is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. In the tool, molecules load from the built-in library or from PubChem.