MolDraw › 3D molecule models › Cholesterol 3D model
Cholesterol molecule model (C27H46O)
Cholesterol is a steroid. It has four fused rings (three six-membered and one five-membered), a 3β-OH group, a C5=C6 double bond and an eight-carbon side chain. The rigid, nearly flat ring system stiffens cell membranes.
Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom. 3D coordinates: PubChem conformer (CID 5997).
Cholesterol at a glance
| Formula | C27H46O |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 386.7 g/mol |
| IUPAC name | (3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-10,13-dimethyl-17-[(2R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol |
| Atoms / bonds | 74 / 77 |
| H-bond donors / acceptors | 1 / 1 |
| XLogP3 | 8.7 |
| SMILES | C[C@H](CCCC(C)C)[C@H]1CC[C@@H]2[C@@]1(CC[C@H]3[C@H]2CC=C4[C@@]3(CC[C@@H](C4)O)C)C |
| PubChem CID | 5997 |
What the 3D model of Cholesterol shows
The model contains 74 atoms (28 heavy atoms and 46 hydrogens) joined by 77 bonds; in ball-and-stick mode every stick is one bond, and double or aromatic bonds are drawn as multiple sticks. Switch to space-filling to see the molecule as its electron cloud, scaled to van der Waals radii: this is the shape other molecules actually "feel". It can donate 1 and accept 1 hydrogen bonds, and its PubChem XLogP3 of 8.7 means it is fat-loving (lipophilic). Its topological polar surface area is 20.2 Ų.
Shape and bond angles
| Atom(s) | Geometry / hybridisation | Angles & lengths |
|---|---|---|
| ring carbons | Mostly tetrahedral sp³; trans-fused chair rings form a flat, rigid plate | ≈ 109.5° |
| C5=C6 | Trigonal planar, sp² | ≈ 120° |
Is Cholesterol polar?
Amphipathic: one small polar OH head on a large non-polar hydrocarbon body (XLogP ≈ 8.7).
Elemental composition of C27H46O
| Element | Atoms | Mass (g/mol) | Mass % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon (C) | 27 | 324.297 | 83.87% |
| Hydrogen (H) | 46 | 46.368 | 11.99% |
| Oxygen (O) | 1 | 15.999 | 4.14% |
Calculated from IUPAC standard atomic weights. Check any formula with the molar mass calculator.
Uses of cholesterol
- Component of animal cell membranes (fluidity control)
- Precursor of steroid hormones, bile acids and vitamin D
- Carried in blood by LDL and HDL lipoproteins
Interesting facts
- Cholesterol has 8 stereocentres, so 256 stereoisomers are possible, but nature makes only one.
- The liver makes most of the body's cholesterol. Statins block HMG-CoA reductase in that pathway.
- Its OH sits at the membrane surface while the rings slot between phospholipid tails.
Drawing structures for your notes? MolDraw is a free online chemical structure editor for molecules, reactions and lab diagrams.
Open MolDraw editorFrequently asked questions
What is the structure of cholesterol?
Four fused rings (the steroid nucleus), a hydroxyl at C3, a double bond at C5–C6, and an alkyl side chain at C17.
Is cholesterol polar?
Mostly non-polar. Only its single OH group is polar, so it is amphipathic and insoluble in water.
What is the chemical formula and molar mass of cholesterol?
Cholesterol is C27H46O with a molar mass of 386.7 g/mol (PubChem CID 5997). It contains 74 atoms: 27 carbon, 46 hydrogen, 1 oxygen.
What is the IUPAC name of Cholesterol?
The PubChem-computed IUPAC name is (3S,8S,9S,10R,13R,14S,17R)-10,13-dimethyl-17-[(2R)-6-methylheptan-2-yl]-2,3,4,7,8,9,11,12,14,15,16,17-dodecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol.
How do I make a model of Cholesterol?
With 74 atoms, Cholesterol is a big kit build. Use the interactive model above as your guide, build the ring or core framework first, then add the side groups and finally the hydrogens.