The penicillin molecule in 3-D

The Penicillin G molecule - rotatable in 3 dimensions

The grey spheres represent carbon atoms, the red ones oxygen and the white ones hydrogen. The two blue spheres are nitrogen atoms and the single yellow sphere is a sulphur atom.

In the middle of the molecule is a square section, which gives penicillin its antibiotic effect. This is called a beta lactam ring.

This form of penicillin - also called Penicillin G - has a benzyl group at one end of the molecule. This contains a 6-membered benzene ring.

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