Aspartic Acid (C4H7NO4) - Multi-Color 3D Molecule Model

Aspartic Acid (C4H7NO4) - Multi-Color 3D Molecular Model (Space-Filling Spheres)

An accurate, educational 3D printable model of Aspartic Acid (C4H7NO4) 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

Aspartic acid is an acidic dicarboxylic amino acid carrying a net negative charge at physiological pH.

• Chemical Formula: C4H7NO4

• IUPAC / Common Name: Aspartic Acid

• Structure Coordinates: pubchem

💡 Did You Know?

Aspartic acid is half of the world's most famous artificial sweetener, aspartame (E951 / NutraSweet). Combined with phenylalanine, it tastes 200 times sweeter than sucrose without the caloric load!

🌟 Real-World Uses & Fascinating Facts

• ⚡ Brain Excitatory Signaling: Functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter directly stimulating NMDA receptors crucial for cognitive processing and neuroplasticity.

• 🍃 Biodegradable Eco-Plastics: Polymerized into sodium polyaspartate, an eco-friendly biodegradable water softener replacing environmentally persistent polyacrylates in detergents.

• 🔋 Chelated Minerals: Commonly bound to magnesium and zinc (e.g. magnesium aspartate) to dramatically increase cellular mineral absorption.

🧠 Biological Role & Science Notes

In metabolic biochemistry, aspartate donates amino groups to the urea cycle and donates nitrogen atoms needed to construct purine bases for DNA and RNA. It frequently serves as a catalytic general acid/base in protease active sites.

🔬 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