Guanidino group is one of those subjects where the details matter more than the headlines. This page pulls together the background, the mechanisms, and the practical points readers ask about most.
Updated 2026-05-04. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
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.
In solid form, creatine monohydrate is relatively stable when kept dry and away from heat. Moisture and elevated temperatures promote cyclization into creatinine, a related compound with no role in the phosphagen system. Degradation accelerates in aqueous solution, where the conversion can occur within hours to days depending on pH and temperature. Manufacturers typically recommend storage in sealed containers at room temperature, with relative humidity below 50 percent. Long-term stability data for opened containers are limited.
Analytical methods for creatine monohydrate focus on identity, purity, and degradation products. High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection is common, often at a wavelength near 210 nanometers. Titration and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can also quantify the parent compound. Pharmacopeial monographs specify tests for appearance, solubility, water content, and related substances, including creatinine. Purity values above 99 percent are typical for pharmaceutical-grade material, though supplement-grade products vary. Independent verification can detect label discrepancies.
| 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 stable under dry, cool conditions but can degrade when exposed to moisture and heat. In solution, it undergoes hydrolysis to creatinine, a cyclic derivative with little role in phosphagen energy transfer. The rate of conversion increases with temperature, storage time, and acidic or alkaline pH. Solid material kept in a sealed container at room temperature generally retains its composition for extended periods. Moisture uptake is a primary concern because it can accelerate breakdown and caking.
Analytical laboratories commonly use high-performance liquid chromatography to separate creatine from creatinine and related impurities. Ion chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and titration assays can also quantify the compound. Water content is measured by Karl Fischer titration or loss on drying, because the monohydrate has a defined theoretical water fraction. Particle size, bulk density, and flowability are physical properties that affect blending and capsule filling. These measurements support quality control and help verify that a lot matches its specification.
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.
=== Relating force (F) to retention time (tr) === The relationship between the separative force field and retention time can be derived from first principles. Consider two particle populations within the FFF channel. The cross field drives both particle clouds towards the bottom "accumulation" wall. Opposing this force field is the particles' natural diffusion, or Brownian motion, which produces a counter acting motion. When these two transport processes reach equilibrium the particle concentration c approaches the exponential function of elevation x above the accumulation wall as illustrated in equation (1).
A coordination complex is a chemical compound consisting of a central atom or ion, which is usually metallic and is called the coordination centre, and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions, that are in turn known as ligands or complexing agents. Many metal-containing compounds, especially those that include transition metals (elements like titanium that belong to the periodic table's d-block), are coordination complexes. Coordination complexes can have a wide variety of coordination numbers and molecular geometries, with some complexes exhibiting Jahn–Teller distortions. Additionally, most coordination complexes are colored, due to visible light absorption due to d-d transitions or charge-transfer. The two main models explaining the properties (such as electronic structure, magnetism, and color) of complexes are crystal field theory and ligand field theory.
Kyle K. Biggar (born 1986) is a Canadian biochemist and molecular biologist. He has been a professor of biochemistry, chemistry, and biology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada since 2017. Biggar was the 2016 recipient of the John Charles Polanyi Prize for his outstanding work in early career research.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
==== Minimum wage and income tax reforms ==== On 16 February, Lula increased the value of the minimum wage from 1,302 reals to 1,320 reals, correcting it above inflation. In December, there was another increase on the minimum wage, going from 1,320 to 1,412 reals, the increase became effective on 1 January 2024. According to Lula, these actions are the result of a new "minimum wage valorization" project idealized by him, which will adjust the minimum wage over inflation every year, as a way to keep up with the price changes for basic products. In early 2023, there was also an increase in the exemption from Income tax to 2,640 reals, compared to the previous amount of 1,900 reals. In February 2024, continuing the increase in income tax exemption, Lula issued a provisional measure that exempts those who receive up to 2,824 reais from payment (equivalent to two minimum wages per month).
=== Period 1: Initial transitional style === The first period consist in a short interval of transitional style, in which paintings remain subtil and rather nuanced, but blue pigments have started to appear. The Cave of the Devil C (Cave 198) and Cave of the Devil A (Cave 199), as well as the Cave with the Steps (Cave 110) and sometimes the Red-domed Cave A (Cave 67) are considered as the first period of this new style.
== Critical reception == Gordon Freeman quickly became and then remained one of the most popular video game characters ever. In 2008, The Age ranked him as the 16th-best Xbox character of all time, adding that "no one has done more for the reputations and street cred of theoretical physicists than Valve." In 2009, GameDaily listed the "strong and silent type" in their top 25 video game archetypes, using Gordon Freeman as an example. In 2010, Empire ranked him as the number one Greatest Video Game Character, commenting that "the character is the quintessential geek fantasy" who "has become a gaming icon, synonymous with the apotheosis of first-person action." He was also ranked 14th on UGO.com's list of top 100 heroes in all media, with a comment that "an MIT graduate, donning black-framed glasses and a goatee, he's not the guy you'd picture decimating the alien threat." In 2012, GamesRadar ranked him as the sixth "most memorable, influential, and badass" protagonist in games, adding: "It's how the characters of the Half-Life universe treat Gordon Freeman, not the way he treats them, that shape such a compelling character." In 2013, Complex ranked him as the 45th "most badass" video game character of all time. In 1998, readers of GameSpot ranked him as the fifth-best Hero of gaming. In 2009, a public poll on GameSpot resulted in him being voted the All Time Greatest Video Game Hero. He was also voted as the eighth-best video game character of all time in the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== China === There are no regulations on beak trimming in the People's Republic of China. Some companies have decided to voluntarily phase out debeaking, such as Ningxia Xiaoming Farming and Animal Husbandry Co. Ltd.
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are a class of medication used primarily for the treatment of cardiovascular and kidney diseases. This class of medicine works by causing relaxation of blood vessels as well as a decrease in blood volume, which leads to lower blood pressure and decreased oxygen demand from the heart. ACE inhibitors inhibit the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme, an important component of the renin–angiotensin system which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, and hydrolyzes bradykinin. Therefore, ACE inhibitors decrease the formation of angiotensin II, a vasoconstrictor, and increase the level of bradykinin, a peptide vasodilator. This combination is synergistic in lowering blood pressure. As a result of inhibiting the ACE enzyme in the bradykinin system, the ACE inhibitor drugs allow for increased levels of bradykinin which would normally be degraded. Bradykinin produces prostaglandin. This mechanism can explain the two most common side effects seen with ACE Inhibitors: angioedema and cough.
A common belief among users is that the smoke of a hookah (waterpipe, narghile) is significantly less dangerous than that from cigarettes. The water moisture induced by the hookah makes the smoke less irritating and may give a false sense of security and reduce concerns about true health effects. Doctors at institutions including the Mayo Clinic have stated that use of hookah can be as detrimental to a person's health as smoking cigarettes, and a study by the World Health Organization also confirmed these findings. Although the smoking effects are similar to a cigarettes, due to the manner in which a hookah is utilized, smoking hookah may potentially absorb a higher amount of toxic substances, compared to cigarette smokers. Each hookah session typically lasts more than 40 minutes, and consists of 50 to 200 inhalations that each range from 0.15 to 0.50 liters of smoke. In an hour-long smoking session of hookah, users consume about 100 to 200 times the smoke of a single cigarette; A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that water pipe smokers were marginally more likely than regular smokers to show signs of gum disease, showing rates 5-fold higher than non-smokers rather than the 3.8-fold risk that regular smokers show. A systematic review on waterpipe smoking and cancer reports that waterpipe smokers had significantly higher, up to six times odds of lung cancer compared to non-smokers. A study on hookah smoking and cancer in Pakistan was published in 2008. Its objective was "to find serum CEA levels in ever/exclusive hookah smokers, i.e.
=== 22 May === At least eight people were injured and multiple buildings were damaged by a Russian air strike in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian officials also claimed that Russian forces fired some sixteen missiles, of different types, and twenty "Shahed-136/131 drones". Ukraine claimed to have shot down four cruise missiles and all of the drones. The governor of Kharkiv Oblast said two women were wounded by Russian shelling in Kupiansk. One person was killed by Russian shelling in Stanislav, Kherson Oblast. The occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant went offline for several hours before being reconnected. Ukraine's nuclear agency Energoatom had accused Russia of carrying out attacks that caused a power cut, adding that it was the seventh time the plant entered "blackout mode" since Russian troops took control in March 2022. The governor of Russia's Belgorod Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said that Ukrainian shelling injured three people in the city of Grayvoron, which borders Ukraine, and damaged three residential buildings and an administration building. He also said that Ukrainian attacks had injured two people in the village of Glotovo in Grayvoronsky District and accused a Ukrainian "sabotage" group of crossing the border in carrying out an attack. Two civilians were reported to have been killed. Footage purportedly showing a Ukrainian tank attacking a Russian border post also appeared on a Telegram channel linked to Russian security services.
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.
Yes, especially when exposed to moisture or heat, where it converts to creatinine. In dry, sealed containers at room temperature, degradation is slow and the product may remain within specification for two to three years.