Sodium thiopental
Also called thiopental sodium, sodium pentothal, sodium thiopentobarbital and sodium pentothiobarbital.
A barbiturate once standard for starting anaesthesia, now largely displaced by propofol. Sodium thiopental (C11H17N2NaO2S, 264 g/mol) is a barbiturate dispensed on prescription.
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
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf.
Sources and notes
- 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.
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
- C11H17N2NaO2S
- Molecular weight
- 264.32 g/mol
- Polar surface areatopological
- 59.5 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 3
- Rotatable bonds
- 4
- Complexity
- 346
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA via PubChem
Danger Toxic pictogram (GHS06); hazard statements H301
Reported Licence
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency licenses Sodium thiopental for human use. MHRA Products
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Family
- Barbiturates
- Chemical groups
- Amides
- Hazard classes
- Acutely toxic, GHS Danger
CCCC(C)C1(C(=O)NC(=NC1=O)[S-])CC.[Na+]PubChem CID 23665410 · Wikidata Q410179 · InChIKey AWLILQARPMWUHA-UHFFFAOYSA-M · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Sodium thiopental?
- A barbiturate once standard for starting anaesthesia, now largely displaced by propofol. Sodium thiopental (C11H17N2NaO2S, 264 g/mol) is a barbiturate dispensed on prescription.
- How toxic is Sodium thiopental?
- Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictogram Toxic. from source
- What kind of molecule is Sodium thiopental?
- Sodium thiopental has the formula C11H17N2NaO2S and a molecular weight of 264.32 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under barbiturates, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Sodium thiopental called?
- Sodium thiopental is also called thiopental sodium, sodium pentothal, sodium thiopentobarbital and sodium pentothiobarbital. from source
- Who licenses Sodium thiopental as a medicine?
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency licenses Sodium thiopental for human use. from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceMHRA ProductsRead 2026-10-21. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
Sources and notes
- 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