Guanidino group comes up often in conversation and rarely with the context attached. Here we lay out the basics in order, then work through the practical considerations.
Updated 2026-08-01. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
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.
Creatine monohydrate is a crystalline compound formed when one molecule of creatine binds with one molecule of water. Creatine itself is a nitrogen-containing organic acid involved in cellular energy transfer, particularly in muscle and nerve tissue. The monohydrate form is the most common solid form used in research and commercial products because it is relatively stable and easy to handle. Its molecular formula is C4H9N3O2·H2O, and its molar mass is about 149.15 grams per mole.
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.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C4H9N3O2·H2O | Monohydrate includes one water molecule per creatine molecule |
| Molar mass | 149.15 g/mol | Value for the monohydrate; anhydrous creatine is about 131.13 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline powder | Odorless or nearly odorless in purified form |
| Solubility in water | About 13 g/L at 25 °C | Solubility increases with temperature and varies with pH |
| Common synonyms | Creatine hydrate; N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine | Monohydrate distinguishes it from anhydrous creatine |
Manufacturing processes can leave trace amounts of dicyandiamide, creatinine, or residual solvents, depending on the synthetic route and purification steps. Heavy metals, arsenic, and microbial contamination are also monitored for food or pharmaceutical grades. Particle size distribution can affect dissolution behavior and blending uniformity, so it may be specified for certain applications. Analytical results are reported on a dry basis or as-is basis, and the difference matters when comparing certificates of analysis. Open questions remain about how minor impurities influence long-term stability under varied storage conditions.
Stability studies typically examine the effects of temperature, humidity, and light on creatine monohydrate. Sealed containers stored in cool, dry conditions help limit moisture uptake and hydrolysis. Elevated temperature and high relative humidity can accelerate conversion to creatinine, especially in aqueous solutions. In solid dosage forms, excipients and processing steps may also affect stability. Published stability data are not fully consistent across studies because test conditions and analytical methods vary.
Quality control of creatine monohydrate relies on a combination of identity, purity, and moisture tests. High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection is widely used to separate creatine from creatinine and other related nitrogenous compounds. Spectroscopic methods such as infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance provide structural confirmation. Because the material is a hydrate, water content is measured separately, often by Karl Fischer titration. These tests together establish whether a lot meets a defined specification.
Creatine monohydrate is a crystalline compound formed from creatine and one molecule of water. Its systematic name is N-(aminoiminomethyl)-N-methylglycine monohydrate, and it appears as a white, odorless powder with limited solubility in water. The monohydrate is the most common solid form used in research and commercial products because it is stable under dry conditions. The anhydrous form lacks the water of crystallization and differs slightly in molar mass. Both forms participate in the same biochemical reactions once dissolved.
In the body, creatine is synthesized from the amino acids arginine, glycine, and methionine, primarily in the liver and kidneys. It is transported to muscle and other tissues, where it is phosphorylated to phosphocreatine by creatine kinase. This phosphagen system provides a rapid source of adenosine triphosphate during short, intense contractions. Dietary creatine comes mainly from meat and fish, and the body's total pool is influenced by both synthesis and intake.
As a supplement, creatine monohydrate is studied for its effects on muscle performance and recovery. The compound is often described as an ergogenic aid, meaning it may support physical work capacity. Research typically compares it with placebo or other forms, such as citrate or nitrate, under controlled conditions. Questions remain about the optimal dose and long-term effects in different populations, and findings are not uniform across all studies. The monohydrate form remains the most extensively tested.
The mechanism by which pertechnetate prevents corrosion is not well understood, but seems to involve the reversible formation of a thin surface layer (passivation). One theory holds that the pertechnetate reacts with the steel surface to form a layer of technetium dioxide which prevents further corrosion; the same effect explains how iron powder can be used to remove pertechnetate from water. The effect disappears rapidly if the concentration of pertechnetate falls below the minimum concentration or if too high a concentration of other ions is added. As noted, the radioactive nature of technetium (3 MBq/L at the concentrations required) makes this corrosion protection impractical in almost all situations. Nevertheless, corrosion protection by pertechnetate ions was proposed (but never adopted) for use in boiling water reactors.
=== Legal status === Ertugliflozin, ertugliflozin combined with metformin, and ertugliflozin combined with sitagliptin were approved for medical use in the United States in December 2019, and in the European Union in March 2018.
=== Rett Syndrome === Missense mutations in the MeCP2 protein can cause Rett syndrome, otherwise known as the RTT phenotype. This phenotype primarily effects females, as males do not live with this mutation past infancy. T158M, R306C and R133C are the most common missense mutations causing RTT. T158M is a mutation of an adenine being substituted for a guanine causing the threonine at amino acid position 158 being substituted with a methionine. R133C is a mutation of a cytosine at base position 417 in the gene encoding the MeCP2 protein being substituted for a thymine, causing an amino acid substitution at position 133 in the protein of arginine with cysteine.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Impact on growers ==== The US-supported coca eradication policy has been criticized for its negative impact on the livelihood of South American coca growers, in a region where the coca leaf has traditionally been chewed and used in tea and for religious, medicinal and nutritional purposes by locals Making traditional coca cultivation illegal is viewed as unjust. In areas where forced eradication also destroyed other food or market crops, without providing an alternative, farmers were left starving and destitute.
=== General references === Ambrose, W.; Novak, S.W.; Abdelrehim, I. (2004). "Powdered obsidian for determining hydration rates and site thermometry". Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry. 4 (2): 17–31. Liritzis (2006). "SIMS-SS A new obsidian hydration dating method: analysis and theoretical principles". Archaeometry. 48 (3): 533–547. Bibcode:2006Archa..48..533L. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2006.00271.x. Rogers, A. K. (2008). "Field data validation of an algorithm for computing obsidian effective hydration temperature". Journal of Archaeological Science. 35 (2): 441–447. Bibcode:2008JArSc..35..441R. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2007.04.009. Eerkens, J.W; Vaughn, K.J; Carpenter, T.R; Conlee, C.A; Linares Grados, Moises; Schreiber, K (2008). "Obsidian hydration dating on the South Coast of Peru". Journal of Archaeological Science. 35 (8): 2231–2239. Bibcode:2008JArSc..35.2231E. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2008.02.009. Liritzis, I; Laskaris, N (2009). "Advances in obsidian hydration dating by secondary ion mass spectrometry: World examples". Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B. 267 (1): 144–150. Bibcode:2009NIMPB.267..144L. doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2008.10.092.
== History == The brewery started as a small, casual pub in the alleyways of Gyeongnidan in Seoul. The idea to start the pub was inspired by Tudor's article in The Economist, which claimed: "brewing remains just about the only useful activity at which North Korea beats the South." The pub began selling Bill's Pale Ale, The Booth's first brew, along with a small selection of pizza. After realizing how crucial the cold chain transportation system was to maintaining the quality and flavor of beer, the owners established the first cold chain import and distribution system, The Booth Cold Chain. This was soon importing beers from Mikkeller, Evil Twin, To Øl, and 8 Wired. Two crowdfunding campaigns titled Equity for Booth were launched, in September 2015 and February 2017.
July 23, 2009: Canada On 23 July, the Bank of Canada made comments that most media interpreted as an effective statement predicting with strong certainty that the recession is over with expected growth in GDP beginning the current quarter. The Bank of Canada announced the end of the recession even though it was nascent and still dependent on government stimulus money.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It is a crystalline form of creatine that contains one water molecule per creatine molecule. The compound occurs naturally in muscle tissue and is also produced synthetically for research and consumer products. The monohydrate label describes the solid's hydration state.
Creatine monohydrate contains creatine, but the two terms are not strictly interchangeable. The monohydrate includes water in the crystal, while creatine refers to the base molecule. Other creatine forms pair the molecule with different acids or carriers.
Dietary creatine is found mainly in meat and fish. The human body also synthesizes creatine from amino acids in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. The monohydrate powder used in products is manufactured rather than extracted directly from food.
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.