Glutamic Acid (C5H9NO4) - Multi-Color 3D Molecule Model

Glutamic Acid (C5H9NO4) - Multi-Color 3D Molecular Model (Space-Filling Spheres)

An accurate, educational 3D printable model of Glutamic Acid (C5H9NO4) in classic Space-Filling (van der Waals / CPK Spheres) style. Ideal for chemistry classrooms, students, researchers, science educators, or as a vibrant desk display.

Printed in a single piece using multi-material systems (Prusa MMU3, Bambu AMS, Toolchangers) — no gluing or assembly required!

Generated with the web tool 3D Print Molecules.

🧪 About the Molecule

Glutamic acid is an acidic amino acid and the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian nervous system.

• Chemical Formula: C5H9NO4

• IUPAC / Common Name: Glutamic Acid

• Structure Coordinates: pubchem

💡 Did You Know?

In 1908, Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda isolated glutamate crystals from seaweed broth (kombu dashi) to identify the elusive fifth basic taste, christening it 'umami' (deliciousness)—sparking the worldwide culinary phenomenon of MSG!

🌟 Real-World Uses & Fascinating Facts

• 🍜 The Umami King (MSG): Monosodium glutamate is the world's favorite flavor enhancer, naturally concentrated in parmesan cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and aged meats.

• 🧠 90% of Brain Activity: Acts as the primary excitatory chemical in vertebrate brains, responsible for learning, long-term memory formation, and synaptic plasticity.

• ☯ Calming GABA Precursor: Converted via decarboxylation into gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the body's primary inhibitory chemical that induces relaxation and sleep.

🧠 Biological Role & Science Notes

Glutamate concentration inside neurons is maintained at high levels while extracellular synaptic concentrations are strictly buffered by glial transporters to prevent neurotoxic excitotoxicity. It also sits at the metabolic crossroads between amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism via alpha-ketoglutarate.

🔬 Scientific Precision

• van der Waals Radii: Proportions strictly match standard physical van der Waals radii (Bondi, 1964).

• Conformational Reality: Geometry reflects the lowest-energy real-world conformation derived from computational force fields (MMFF94) and crystallographic/quantum benchmarks.

• CPK Color Standard: Colors follow the classic international Corey-Pauling-Koltun (CPK) palette.

🚀 Why Use the 3D Print Molecules Web App? (3dmolekuly.vscht.cz)

This model was generated using our web visualizer designed to make multi-color 3D printing of molecules seamless:

• 🎯 Automatic Multi-Part Mesh for Multi-Color Printing: No manual cutting or CAD modeling required. The generator automatically isolates each chemical element into separate manifold bodies so PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, and OrcaSlicer immediately assign colors!

• 🔬 Authentic Space-Filling Volumes: Generates clean, manifold overlapping sphere volumes reflecting real molecular geometry.

• ⚙ Full Customization: Adjust atom diameters, mesh resolution, scale (mm/Å), and toggle hydrogen atoms on or off.

• 🎓 Free & Web-Based: Developed at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (VŠCHT Praha). Free to use, runs right in your browser with zero installation.

(📸 Check the web app screenshot in the photos to view the model loaded in the visualizer with the settings panel!)

🖨 Multi-Material Printing Instructions

• Style: Space-Filling Spheres (CPK)

• Assembly: None! Printed in one solid piece with multi-material systems.

• Element Color Assignments:

• Carbon (C): Black / Dark Grey

• Hydrogen (H): White

• Oxygen (O): Red

• Nitrogen (N): Blue

• Recommended Layer Height: 0.16 mm (optimal for smooth sphere curves) – 0.20 mm

• Perimeters / Walls: 3

• Infill: 15% Gyroid

• Supports: Tree / Organic supports recommended (use PETG support interface on PLA for 0mm contact distance)

💡 Support Interface Trick for Flawless Spheres

When printing PLA with multi-material units (MMU3, AMS, Toolchanger): Set your Support Interface Material to PETG with Top Z distance = 0 mm. Because PLA and PETG do not bond to each other, the organic/tree supports detach effortlessly by hand with zero surface scarring, leaving the spherical atoms perfectly smooth!

🔗 Customize Your Model or Create Any Molecule!

Need different tolerances for your printer, larger/smaller atoms, or want to export another molecule entirely?

👉 Open and customize directly in the 3D Print Molecules App

Created with ❤ at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (VŠCHT Praha) • 3dmolekuly.vscht.cz