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Sciformation VectorMol
A browser editor for drawing molecular structures and single-step reactions, with iframe embedding and SVG export.
Source available. 30 of 65 checklist features confirmed.
Main canvas
No dark mode
Light and dark browser preferences rendered identically.
Default drawings
Caffeine
Paclitaxel
Cholesterol in 3D
- The script URL carries build identifier 2026-08-25; no semantic version was shown.
- The public demo footer says test use only.
- MOL exports in molecule mode matched fixture stereochemistry in RDKit.
- The cholesterol SDF displayed all explicit hydrogens in a wireframe projection.
- Reaction mode saves RXN; molecule mode saves MOL.
Facts
- Version we tested
- 2026-08-25
- Runs on
- Browser, iOS, Android
- License
- CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 for noncommercial use; commercial use requires an individual license. Readable source available on request.
- Price
- Free for noncommercial use; commercial pricing on request (2026-11-05).
- Relies on
- No third-party engine found. Vendor credits its developer; third-party notices list generic graphics and utilities.
- Draws with
- Raphaël SVG graphics on screen and in SVG exports
- Chemistry from
- In-house JavaScript molecular model and geometry optimizer
- Interface
- Custom HTML controls with jQuery
- Main language
- JavaScript
- Other languages
- None
- Renderer
- Original: VectorMol molecular renderer over Raphaël
- Third-party licenses
- MIT/Zlib libraries, BSL-1.0 Clipper lasso code, and public-domain Tango icons.
- Commercial use requires an individual license; the hosted editor is labeled 'test use only'.
- Only single-step reactions are documented; drawing another arrow replaces the first.
- The manual denies external clipboard access, while current code and the product page support ChemDraw interchange.
In use
Screenshots from our test of this version.
Single, double and triple bonds
Single, triple and aromatic double bonds on the canvas.
Wedge, hash and wavy bonds
Solid and hashed wedge bonds on the canvas.
Ring tools
A benzene ring on the drawing canvas.
Tilt drawings in perspective
Cholesterol structure displayed in 3D mode with explicit hydrogens.
Reaction arrows
A forward reaction arrow beside a benzene ring.
Formula and mass
Caffeine structure with its molecular formula and two mass values.
3D model view
Cholesterol structure displayed in 3D mode with explicit hydrogens.
SVG export
SVG button in the toolbar above the drawing canvas.
Features
- Tested by running it
- Seen in the app
- The manual says yes
- Partly, with the reason shown
- Not supported
- Not established, which is not the same as no
Select a mark for its proof. A filled mark opens our screenshot, or the manual if the check left nothing to picture. A ring opens the manual.
Drawing structures
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew single, double, and triple bonds. Opens the screenshot.Single, double and triple bondsDrew single, double, and triple bonds.sciformation.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Drew solid wedge, hashed wedge, and wavy bonds. Opens the screenshot.Wedge, hash and wavy bondsDrew solid wedge, hashed wedge, and wavy bonds.sciformation.com
- Partly: Coordination uses unspecified bonds rather than directed dative bonds. Opens the cited page.Dative, hydrogen and quadruple bondsCoordination uses unspecified bonds rather than directed dative bonds.sciformation.com
- Not establishedChoose double-bond side
- Partly: Phenyl shortcut inserted an aromatic ring. Opens the screenshot.Ring toolsPhenyl shortcut inserted an aromatic ring.sciformation.com
- Not establishedChair and Haworth rings
- Yes, according to the manual: Chain tool creates zigzag backbones by dragging. Opens the cited page.Chain toolChain tool creates zigzag backbones by dragging.sciformation.com
- Partly: Phenyl shortcut worked; broader library not verified. Opens the cited page.Template libraryPhenyl shortcut worked; broader library not verified.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Requires template mode and access to the installation's templates folder. Opens the cited page.Save your own templatesRequires template mode and access to the installation's templates folder.sciformation.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Ph inserted a phenyl structure. Opens the cited page.Group abbreviationsPh inserted a phenyl structure.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Element labels, charges, isotope masses and explicit hydrogen counts. Opens the cited page.Charges, isotopes and atom labelsElement labels, charges, isotope masses and explicit hydrogen counts.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Atom radical dots and electron-pair modifiers. Opens the cited page.Radicals and lone pairsAtom radical dots and electron-pair modifiers.sciformation.com
- Yes, tested by running it: Number and letter shortcuts changed drawing tools. Opens the cited page.Keyboard drawingNumber and letter shortcuts changed drawing tools.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Lasso, rotate, flip; Ctrl+wheel scales the active selection. Opens the cited page.Lasso select and transformsLasso, rotate, flip; Ctrl+wheel scales the active selection.sciformation.com
- Yes, tested by running it: 3D rotation changed the selected structure's projection. Opens the screenshot.Tilt drawings in perspective3D rotation changed the selected structure's projection.sciformation.com
Reactions and mechanisms
- Partly: Forward arrow drawn; other arrow types not found. Opens the screenshot.Reaction arrowsForward arrow drawn; other arrow types not found.sciformation.com
- No: Arrow tool drew a straight reaction arrow; no curved tool found. Opens the cited page.Curved mechanism arrowsArrow tool drew a straight reaction arrow; no curved tool found.
- Partly: Reaction mode wrote RXN; reaction round-trip not checked. Opens the cited page.Machine-readable reactionsReaction mode wrote RXN; reaction round-trip not checked.sciformation.com
- Not establishedAtom mapping
- Not establishedOrbitals and symbols
Figures and layout
- Not establishedRich text captions
- Not establishedShapes, brackets and curves
- Not establishedAlign and distribute
- Partly: Chemical substructure groups only; disconnected objects cannot be grouped. Opens the cited page.Group and ungroupChemical substructure groups only; disconnected objects cannot be grouped.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Toolbar command optimizes bond geometry in two dimensions. Opens the cited page.2D structure cleanupToolbar command optimizes bond geometry in two dimensions.sciformation.com
- Not establishedJournal drawing styles
- Not establishedReusable custom styles
- Yes, according to the manual: Individual atom colors through JavaScript setAtomColors(). Opens the cited page.Color controlIndividual atom colors through JavaScript setAtomColors().sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: API highlights atoms with blue surrounding boxes; SVG retains them. Opens the cited page.Color highlightingAPI highlights atoms with blue surrounding boxes; SVG retains them.sciformation.com
- Not establishedPage layout and multipage
- Not establishedImported pictures
- Not establishedTLC plates and tables
Chemistry intelligence
- Not establishedStructure checking
- Not establishedR/S and E/Z labels
- Yes, tested by running it: Caffeine displayed formula and two masses. Opens the screenshot.Formula and massCaffeine displayed formula and two masses.
- Not establishedProperty estimates
- No: Entering caffeine in atom field did not create caffeine. Opens the cited page.Name to structureEntering caffeine in atom field did not create caffeine.
- No: Clicking formula did not produce a name; no command found. Opens the cited page.Structure to nameClicking formula did not produce a name; no command found.
- Not establishedNMR prediction
- Yes, according to the manual: Toolbar provides R-group and wildcard atom choices. Opens the cited page.R-groups and query structuresToolbar provides R-group and wildcard atom choices.sciformation.com
- Yes, according to the manual: Chemical repeat groups support variable polymers and fixed-count oligomers. Opens the cited page.Polymers and repeat unitsChemical repeat groups support variable polymers and fixed-count oligomers.sciformation.com
- Not establishedPeptides and nucleic acids
- Not establishedImage to structure
- Not establishedOnline structure lookup
- Yes, tested by running it: Imported 3D coordinates rotated in depth on canvas. Opens the screenshot.3D model viewImported 3D coordinates rotated in depth on canvas.sciformation.com
- Not establishedCrystal structures
Files and exchange
- Partly: Simple CDXML imported; CDXML export not found. Opens the cited page.CDXML import and exportSimple CDXML imported; CDXML export not found.sciformation.com
- Not establishedCDX import and export
- Yes, tested by running it: Opened MOL and SDF; molecule mode saved MOL. Opens the cited page.MOL and SDFOpened MOL and SDF; molecule mode saved MOL.sciformation.com
- No: Opening caffeine SMILES file left canvas empty. Opens the cited page.SMILESOpening caffeine SMILES file left canvas empty.
- Not establishedInChI
- Partly: Reaction mode saved RXN; import not checked. Opens the cited page.RXN filesReaction mode saved RXN; import not checked.sciformation.com
- Yes, tested by running it: SVG button downloaded structure SVG. Opens the screenshot.SVG exportSVG button downloaded structure SVG.sciformation.com
- No: Save controls offered RXN or SVG, not PDF. Opens the cited page.PDF exportSave controls offered RXN or SVG, not PDF.
- No: Save controls offered RXN or SVG, not PNG. Opens the cited page.High-resolution PNGSave controls offered RXN or SVG, not PNG.
- Yes, according to the manual: Vendor claim: ChemDraw copy/paste via MOL/CDXML, depending on browser. Opens the cited page.Paste to and from ChemDrawVendor claim: ChemDraw copy/paste via MOL/CDXML, depending on browser.sciformation.com
- Not establishedEditable in Word or PowerPoint
- Not establishedWindows Office OLE
APIs and automation
- Not establishedPython API
- Yes, according to the manual: JavaScript getMolRxnfile() and setMolRxnfile(String) exchange structures. Opens the cited page.JavaScript or TypeScript APIJavaScript getMolRxnfile() and setMolRxnfile(String) exchange structures.sciformation.com
- Not establishedCommand-line tool
- Not establishedAI agent control
- Not establishedBuilt-in AI assistant
Embedding and extension
- Not establishedPlugins
- Yes, according to the manual: Iframe editor exposes getMolRxnfile()/setMolRxnfile(); embedded=true hides load/save controls. Opens the cited page.Embed in your own appIframe editor exposes getMolRxnfile()/setMolRxnfile(); embedded=true hides load/save controls.sciformation.com