3D Molecule Viewer
Rotate, zoom and switch between ball-and-stick and space-filling models of common molecules.
About the 3D Molecule Viewer
Free 3D molecule viewer. Choose from more than a dozen common molecules, rotate them with your mouse or finger, and switch between ball-and-stick and space-filling views. Built for molecules, the 3d molecule viewer runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Rotate, zoom and switch between ball-and-stick and space-filling models of common molecules. Use it to explore molecules ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the 3D Molecule Viewer
- Use the controls to change Style. The simulation reacts instantly.
- Pick an option such as Ball and stick, Space filling to switch modes or load an example.
- Press "Stop rotating" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Rotate water.
- Switch to space-filling.
- Look at benzene.
- Zoom in with the mouse wheel.
Key ideas you can learn
- Ball-and-stick models show bonds and angles clearly.
- Space-filling models show how much room atoms take up.
- Colours follow the CPK convention: white hydrogen, black carbon, blue nitrogen, red oxygen.
Where this is used in the real world
3D structures help chemists, biologists and students visualise proteins, drugs and materials that cannot be seen directly.
Who is this simulation for?
Chemistry and biology students learning bonding and molecular shape, and teachers who need an interactive 3D model instead of a textbook drawing.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What do the atom colours mean?
They follow the CPK colour scheme: hydrogen is white, carbon dark grey, nitrogen blue, oxygen red, chlorine green and sulfur yellow.
What is the difference between ball-and-stick and space-filling models?
Ball-and-stick shows bonds and geometry. Space-filling shows the relative size and volume of each atom.
Is the 3D Molecule Viewer free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the 3D Molecule Viewer work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.