GPT-4o seems to get lost and produces impossible illusions. Defining the external shape is good, but then becomes impossibly tangled.
So I must not relent!
Above, it looks like a visual jumble, but if you carefully follow the bonds, there seems to be no large fault in the occlusion or the count.
Let’s try for better presentation.
Latest prompt
You are in image creation mode.
Image: Generate a high-quality, accurate 3D diagram of a silicon crystal structure, suitable for a chemistry or materials science textbook. Show a 3×3×3 array of silicon unit cells arranged in a diamond cubic lattice. Atoms should be represented clearly, and tetrahedral covalent bonds should be accurately depicted. Use isometric perspective and shading appropriate for textbook clarity, not artistic flair. The diagram should suggest continuation of the structure (e.g. via ellipsis, fading, or clipping) beyond the 3×3×3 volume. The layout must be clean, with a neutral background. Ensure atomic positions and connections conform to known crystallographic data for silicon.
It is sufficient to say you cannot ask this to teach, you can use it to eventually get to something that you fact-check over and over, which I didn’t have the patience to pursue. “Cytosine”, everybody.
Molecule chain-of-thought
Absolutely — let’s carefully plan the 3D rendered textbook-style image of Cytosine, focusing on chemical accuracy and visual clarity using a molecular model style (like the classic ball-and-stick kits used in teaching labs).
Step 1: Representation Plan (Color and Size by Element)
We’ll use the standard CPK color scheme (commonly found in academic models and software) with proportionate ball sizes for realism and pedagogical clarity:
| Element | Color | Relative Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | Black or Dark Gray | Medium | Backbone of the molecule |
| Hydrogen (H) | White | Small | Often minimized but shown here |
| Nitrogen (N) | Blue | Medium | Found in ring and functional groups |
| Oxygen (O) | Red | Medium | Key to keto group |
| Bonds | Gray rods | Thin sticks | Cylindrical, accurate angles |
Step 2: Cytosine Structure Overview
Cytosine is a pyrimidine derivative, with the following structural characteristics:
- Six-membered aromatic ring (pyrimidine), with:
- Two nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3.
- One keto group (=O) at position 2.
- One amine group (–NH₂) at position 4.
- One hydrogen attached to N1.
Molecular Formula: C₄H₅N₃O
Simplified Structural Layout:
O
||
N1—C2—N3
| |
C6 C4—NH2
| |
C5====C5
- Each ring carbon is bonded appropriately (sp² geometry).
- The amine group at C4 is tetrahedral.
- The keto group is double-bonded to C2.
Step 3: Rendering Objectives
- Isometric or perspective view of the molecule.
- Clear visibility of bond angles, planarity of the ring, and correct geometry for amine and keto groups.
- Clean neutral background.
- Slight shadowing or shading for 3D perception.
Now generating the 3D textbook-style Cytosine model…