Melamine
Also called sym-triaminotriazine, cyanuramide, cyanurotriamide and cyanurotriamine.
The hard resin of unbreakable picnic plates and laminate worktops. It is nitrogen-rich, which is why it was criminally added to fake protein content in milk in 2008.
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
A pure element or an engineered material, rather than an ingredient in a product.
Sources and notes
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
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.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C3H6N6
- Molecular weight
- 126.12 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- −1.4
- Polar surface areatopological
- 117 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 3
- H-bond acceptors
- 6
- Rotatable bonds
- 0
- Complexity
- 63
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
112 mg/kg pure melamine, mouse, another route
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, EU CLP Regulation via PubChem
Warning Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H351, H361, H373
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Element & material
- Chemical groups
- Amines
- Elements
- Nitrogen
- Hazard classes
- Health hazard, GHS Warning
C1(=NC(=NC(=N1)N)N)NPubChem CID 7955 · Wikidata Q212553 · InChIKey JDSHMPZPIAZGSV-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Melamine?
- The hard resin of unbreakable picnic plates and laminate worktops. It is nitrogen-rich, which is why it was criminally added to fake protein content in milk in 2008.
- How toxic is Melamine?
- The reported LD50 of Melamine is 112 mg/kg (mouse, other). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Warning and the hazard pictogram Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Melamine?
- Melamine has the formula C3H6N6 and a molecular weight of 126.12 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it in the element & material group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Melamine called?
- Melamine is also called sym-triaminotriazine, cyanuramide, cyanurotriamide and cyanurotriamine. 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: rabbit, on the skin, 1,000 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, EU CLP Regulation via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- EU CLP Regulationfrom sourceAttributionSource: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, © European Union.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09