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