Explanation of the CPK color scheme.
Each type of atom has a characteristic color. The colors are based on the plastic, space-filling models developed by Corey and Pauling, and later modified by Kultun.
Carbon | light grey | C |
Oxygen | red | O |
Hydrogen | white | H |
Nitrogen | light blue | N |
Sulfur | yellow | S |
Phosphorus | orange | P |
Chlorine | green | Cl |
Iron | orange | Fe |
Calcium | dark grey | Ca |
Zinc | brown | Zn |