MCAT Organic Chemistry Question 19: Answer and Explanation
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Question: 19
4. Cholesterol, shown below, contains how many chiral centers?
- A. 5
- B. 7
- C. 8
- D. 9
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
To be considered a chiral center, a carbon must have four different substituents. There are eight stereocenters in this molecule, which are marked below with asterisks.
The other carbons are not chiral for various reasons. Many are bonded to two hydrogens; others participate in double bonds, which count as two bonds to the same atom.