If you have been reading about Creatine monohydrate and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Last reviewed on 2026-06-17. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
In the human body, creatine is synthesized mainly in the liver and kidneys from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. Dietary sources include meat, fish, and other animal tissues, which supply preformed creatine. Because plant foods contain little or no creatine, dietary intake varies widely among populations. The compound is stored largely in skeletal muscle, where it is converted to phosphocreatine and used to regenerate adenosine triphosphate during short bursts of activity.
Creatine monohydrate is one of several solid forms of creatine described in the literature. Other forms include anhydrous creatine, creatine hydrochloride, and creatine ethyl ester, each with different solubility and stability characteristics. The monohydrate is distinct from creatinine, a spontaneous breakdown compound that forms when creatine loses water and cyclizes. Commercial descriptions sometimes use synonyms such as methylguanidoacetic acid or N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine, which refer to the same base molecule. These names appear in chemical databases and product labels.
Solid creatine monohydrate is generally stable when kept cool and dry, but it can hydrolyze to creatinine over time. Moisture, heat, and acidic conditions accelerate this conversion, which reduces assay values and changes the material's properties. Creatinine is a cyclic dehydration product that is also a normal human metabolite, so its presence in a sample is not necessarily a health concern by itself. In quality testing, creatinine is monitored as a marker of degradation and purity.
Identity and purity are assessed with several complementary methods. High-performance liquid chromatography can separate creatine from creatinine and related impurities, often with ultraviolet detection. Nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy provide structural confirmation, while Karl Fischer titration measures water content. Elemental analysis and mass spectrometry may be used for additional confirmation, especially in research or forensic settings. No single method captures every quality attribute, so laboratories typically combine results and compare them against a specification.
Creatine monohydrate is sold as a dietary ingredient in some countries and as a food supplement in others. Regulatory frameworks vary, so purity limits, labeling rules, and permitted claims are not globally uniform. In the United States, it falls under dietary supplement rules, whereas the European Union treats it as a food supplement ingredient. Pharmacopeial monographs, where they exist, can provide public quality standards, but not every product is required to meet them. Questions about long-term effects and patterns of use remain areas of active study rather than settled regulatory findings.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C4H9N3O2·H2O | Monohydrate; anhydrous base is C4H9N3O2 |
| Molar mass | 149.15 g/mol | Calculated for the monohydrate form |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder | Typical laboratory and food-grade material |
| Solubility in water | Sparingly soluble at room temperature | Solubility increases with temperature |
| Common synonyms | Methylguanidoacetic acid; N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine | Synonyms refer to the creatine base, not the hydrate specifically |
Creatine monohydrate is a hydrated form of creatine, a nitrogen-containing compound involved in cellular energy metabolism. Its molecular formula is C4H9N3O2·H2O, with a molar mass around 149.15 g/mol. The monohydrate is the most common solid form used in research and commercial settings because it crystallizes readily and remains stable under ordinary conditions. The term monohydrate indicates one water molecule per creatine molecule in the crystal lattice. It appears as a white crystalline powder with low odor.
In the body, creatine is synthesized from arginine, glycine, and methionine, mainly in the liver and kidneys, and is also obtained from foods such as meat and fish. About 95% of body creatine is stored in skeletal muscle, where a fraction is phosphorylated to phosphocreatine. Phosphocreatine serves as a rapid reserve of high-energy phosphate for short bursts of ATP regeneration. The monohydrate form supplies creatine after dissolution and absorption, but it is not itself the active phosphorylated species.
Creatine was first identified in skeletal muscle extracts in the nineteenth century, and its role in phosphagen energy buffering was clarified in the twentieth century. The monohydrate salt became widely studied after methods for inexpensive synthesis and crystallization were developed. Modern research examines its effects on muscle energetics, recovery, and cognitive performance under specific conditions. Findings vary with population, exercise protocol, baseline creatine status, and measurement method. Studies often compare supplementation with placebo during controlled training or testing schedules.
The compound was identified in the nineteenth century after chemists isolated a nitrogenous substance from meat extracts. Later work established its role in muscle energy metabolism and its conversion to phosphocreatine. Chemical synthesis of creatine followed, and industrial production made the monohydrate widely available as a purified powder. Interest expanded in the late twentieth century when researchers began studying creatine supplementation and muscle physiology. Historical accounts sometimes differ on exact dates and attributions, but the broad sequence from tissue extracts to synthetic production is well documented.
In the body, creatine is obtained from dietary meat and fish and is also synthesized from arginine, glycine, and methionine. Muscle stores creatine and phosphocreatine, which participate in the rapid regeneration of adenosine triphosphate during short, intense activity. The monohydrate form is used in research because it is chemically defined, stable as a dry solid, and relatively inexpensive to produce. Questions remain about whether other creatine forms offer meaningful advantages in absorption or tissue retention, and findings vary across studies and populations.
Observatories, astronomical – Andean and Mesoamerican astronomers constructed towers to observe the movements of the planets and other astronomical features and events. Although culture groups throughout the world have observed the planets and stars and recorded their movements, the stone structures of the Mesoamerican and Andean culture groups are significant because they show the emphasis these early astronomers placed on making clear and accurate observations. In the U.S., the Anasazi built structures with windows aligned for the observation of celestial events. The most notable example of Maya astronomical observatories is Caracol, in Chichén Itzá. In 1975, archaeoastronomers Anthony F. Aveni and Horst Hartung surveyed the site and suggested that ancient Maya astronomers used the structure to observe the planet Venus. The Maya, as well as other Mesoamerican culture groups, used Venus to set times for ceremonies and as a divination tool.
== Pharmacology == Computer models suggest fentanyl binds to μ-opioid receptors in its protonated form. Fluorination of fentanyl at the 3-position lowers the pKa of its conjugate acid from 8.4 to 6.8, a change designed to reduce its systemic effects while maintaining its potency in inflamed tissue, as this is a more acidic environment (pH 5–7) than non-inflamed tissue (pH 7.4). In experiments on rats with different types of inflammatory pain, it has been shown that NFEPP produces injury-restricted analgesia, while exhibiting reduced typical opiate effects such as respiratory depression, sedation, constipation, and chemical seeking behavior. As a result, NFEPP has the potential to reduce opioid addiction and dependency, as there is no effect on users who are not actually suffering from pain, as the chemical does not interact with non-inflamed brain tissue until much higher doses are reached. Further research indicates other fluorinated derivatives of fentanyl, such as β-fluorofentanyl (FF3) or 2'-fluoro β-fluorofentanyl (RR-49), may be more effective in achieving high potency in damaged tissue with low potency in undamaged tissue.
On 17 July 2007, following a four-year inquiry, the House of Commons Select Committee on Standards and Privileges published its sixth report. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, in an addendum to the report, concluded that there was no evidence that Galloway gained any personal benefit from either the former Iraqi administration, or from the Oil-for-Food Programme, but admitted that some documents had been unavailable to him. However, the Committee concluded, in the main body of the report:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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=== Constant-current constant-voltage charging === Constant current constant voltage (CC/CV) is the standard method used to charge lithium-ion cells. During the constant current phase, the charger applies a constant current to the battery at a steadily increasing voltage. Once the maximum charging voltage is reached, the charger changes to the constant voltage phase, where the voltage is held steady and the current gradually decreases, until a minimum current threshold is reached. If the starting voltage of the cell is too low, a very low charging current is usually used until the voltage reaches a safe level. This is sometimes referred to as trickle charging. When charging lithium-ion batteries made of multiple cells in series, top-balancing is also often performed.
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Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Creatine monohydrate is the hydrated solid form of creatine, a nitrogen-containing compound involved in cellular energy metabolism. It consists of one creatine molecule associated with one water molecule in a crystal lattice.
No. Creatinine is a breakdown product formed when creatine loses water and cyclizes, and it is not the same compound. The two names are similar but refer to different chemical structures and roles.
The body synthesizes creatine from amino acids, mainly in the liver and kidneys. It also comes from animal foods such as meat and fish, while plant foods contain little or none.
A sealed container kept at room temperature and away from moisture is typical. Heat and humidity promote conversion to creatinine and can reduce assay values. Long-term storage under dry conditions helps maintain the original crystalline form.