moleculefinder

Diazepam

C16H13ClN2O284.74 g/mol Calculated

Also called Methyl diazepinone.

The benzodiazepine sold as Valium, used for anxiety, muscle spasm, seizures and alcohol withdrawal. It was the best-selling medicine in America through the 1970s.

Sources and notes
  • The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
  • Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
  • Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
  • 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
  • 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.

Where you encounter it

Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Diazepam on the product labels we hold.

Medicines

ValiumAdded by the makerActive ingredient

Every product and list we hold

Sources and notes
  • The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
  • How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
  • The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.

Explore its structure

Choose a part to light it up.

A C=O bonded to a nitrogen, the same link that joins amino acids in a protein. It is sturdy, and its nitrogen is not a base the way an amine's is.

From: standard chemistry.

Sources and notes
  • The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
  • The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.

Compare a related molecule

Diazepam

Lorazepam

Three differences: a methyl group on diazepam, and a hydroxyl group and a chlorine on lorazepam.

Diazepam breaks down into several active metabolites that build up with repeated use, while lorazepam produces none, so its effect ends more cleanly.

Diazepam vs Lorazepam, side by side

Also compared

Sources and notes
  • The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
  • The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
  • The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated

Properties and sources

Calculated by PubChem

Molecular formula
C16H13ClN2O
Molecular weight
284.74 g/mol
XLogP3octanol/water, log units
3
Polar surface areatopological
32.7 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
2
Rotatable bonds
1
Complexity
403

Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem

710 mg/kg pure diazepam, rat, oral

An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.

Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem

Danger Toxic pictogram (GHS06); hazard statements H301, H311

Reported Licence

The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Diazepam for human use (NDA 013263, authorized November 15, 1963). Drugs@FDA

Groups it belongs to

Category
Prescription medicine
Family
Benzodiazepines
Chemical groups
Aromatics, Amides, Halogenated
Elements
Chlorine, Nitrogen
Hazard classes
Acutely toxic, GHS Danger
SMILESCN1C(=O)CN=C(C2=C1C=CC(=C2)Cl)C3=CC=CC=C3

PubChem CID 3016 · Wikidata Q210402 · InChIKey AAOVKJBEBIDNHE-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed

How MoleculeFinder sources and labels its data

Questions
What is Diazepam?
The benzodiazepine sold as Valium, used for anxiety, muscle spasm, seizures and alcohol withdrawal. It was the best-selling medicine in America through the 1970s.
How toxic is Diazepam?
The reported LD50 of Diazepam is 710 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictogram Toxic. from sourcefrom source
What kind of molecule is Diazepam?
Diazepam has the formula C16H13ClN2O and a molecular weight of 284.74 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under benzodiazepines, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
What else is Diazepam called?
Diazepam is also called Methyl diazepinone. from source
Who licenses Diazepam as a medicine?
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Diazepam for human use (NDA 013263, authorized November 15, 1963). from source
Sources and notes
  • Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
  • LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: mouse, oral, 278 mg/kg; mouse, another route, 220 mg/kg; mouse, another route, 300 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
  • Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
  • ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
  • Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
  • Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09

Keep exploring

Three differences: a methyl group on diazepam, and a hydroxyl group and a chlorine on lorazepam.LorazepamC15H10Cl2N2O2Two differences: a hydroxyl group on oxazepam, and a methyl group on diazepam.OxazepamC15H11ClN2O2Compared side by side with diazepamAlprazolamC17H13ClN4Also a benzodiazepineTemazepamC16H13ClN2O2
More related molecules
Sources and notes
  • A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
  • Compared side by sidefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesA molecule we compare it with on its own page.
  • The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
  • The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit