Cholesterol Formula
Question 1: What is meant by cholesterol and what is its molecular formula?
Answer:
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is also known as cholesterin or cholesteryl alcohol. It is an organic compound that belongs to the steroid family and is a type of lipid. It is a white or faintly yellow and almost odorless solid that has a molecular formula of C27H46O.
Question 2: What are the different types of Cholesterol?
Answer:
Cholesterol is classified into two types, namely, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Consuming too much LDL cholesterol may lead to an increase in the chance of heart disease, so it is regarded as “bad” cholesterol. On the other hand, having high amounts of HDL cholesterol is advantageous for the body, so it is regarded as “good” cholesterol.
Question 3: Where does cholesterol come from?
Answer:
To maintain a person’s health, the body needs cholesterol in limited amounts. Around 80% of the cholesterol required for the body is naturally produced by the liver and intestines, we can also consume it from different foods like poultry, eggs, dairy products, fish, and meat.
Question 4: Mention some functions of cholesterol.
Answer:
Cholesterol is a major precursor for the synthesis of various steroid hormones like cortisol and cortisone, vitamin D, and also reproductive system hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. It also plays an important role in the immune system and brain synapses.
Question 5: Explain the structure of cholesterol.
Answer:
The molecular formula of cholesterol is C27H46O, i.e., it consists of 27 carbon atoms, 46 hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. It is a cholestanoid with cholestane, which has a double bond at the 5,6-position as well as a 3-beta-hydroxy group. It has a unique bulky steroid structure made up of four linked hydrocarbon rings, a hydrocarbon tail, and a hydroxyl group, where the four hydrocarbon rings are joined together in the middle of the compound with a hydrocarbon tail attached to one end and the hydroxyl group attached to the other end.
Question 6: Mention some properties of cholesterol.
Answer:
Cholesterol is a white or faintly yellow and almost odorless solid that has a molecular formula of C27H46O. Its molar mass is 386.65 g/mol, while its density is 1.052 g/cm3. It is soluble in acetone, benzene, chloroform, ethanol, ether, hexane, isopropyl myristate, and methanol. Its melting point ranges from 148 to 150 °C, and its boiling point is 360 °C.
Cholesterol Formula
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is also known as cholesterin or cholesteryl alcohol. It is an organic compound that belongs to the steroid family and is a type of lipid. It is found in blood plasma and all animal tissues and can be found in large concentrations within the liver, spinal cord, and brain. It is a white or faintly yellow and almost odourless crystalline solid that has a molecular formula of C27H46O. It is an important part of the cell membrane and also a component of bile salt. To maintain a person’s health, the body needs cholesterol in limited amounts. The term “cholesterol” is derived from ancient Greek words “chole” and “stereos” which means “bile” and “solid” respectively and -ol for alcohol. Around 80% of the cholesterol required for the body is naturally produced by the liver and intestines, we can also consume it from different foods like poultry, eggs, dairy products, fish, and meat.