C8H10N2O2

C8H10N2O2 is the molecular formula for several chemical compounds, including one commonly known as caffeine. The formula indicates that each molecule consists of eight carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, two nitrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. Different arrangements of these atoms can lead to different structural isomers, each possessing unique physical and chemical properties.

Caffeine, perhaps the most widely recognized compound with this formula, is a stimulant found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods. It is a purine alkaloid that acts on the central nervous system. Another compound with the C8H10N2O2 formula is theophylline, also an alkaloid, which is used medically as a bronchodilator. Theobromine, another related compound, is found in chocolate and has milder stimulant effects. The specific arrangement of atoms, or isomerism, dictates whether the compound is caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, or another less common substance. Understanding the molecular formula is the first step in identifying and differentiating these related but distinct chemical entities.