Cholesterol contains ______ hydrocarbon rings.

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Multiple Choice

Cholesterol contains ______ hydrocarbon rings.

Explanation:
Steroids have a four-ring hydrocarbon nucleus. Cholesterol’s core is a tetracyclic system—the cyclopentane ring fused to three cyclohexane rings—giving three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring that are all part of the same fused framework. The hydroxyl group and the side chain sit outside this ring system, so they don’t add extra rings. Therefore, the total number of hydrocarbon rings in cholesterol is four.

Steroids have a four-ring hydrocarbon nucleus. Cholesterol’s core is a tetracyclic system—the cyclopentane ring fused to three cyclohexane rings—giving three six-membered rings and one five-membered ring that are all part of the same fused framework. The hydroxyl group and the side chain sit outside this ring system, so they don’t add extra rings. Therefore, the total number of hydrocarbon rings in cholesterol is four.

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