Chemistry 2003 JAMB Past Questions - Question 41: Carbohydrates are compounds containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio

Correct Answer

C

Explanation

 Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms. The general chemical formula for carbohydrates is (CH2O)n, where "n" represents the number of repeating units. This formula reflects the basic ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen in carbohydrates, which is 1:2:1. However, this simple ratio doesn't capture the diversity of carbohydrate structures, as carbohydrates can exist as simple sugars (monosaccharides), double sugars (disaccharides), and complex sugars (polysaccharides), with varying degrees of complexity and branching.

Monosaccharides, the simplest carbohydrates, have the general formula (CH2O)n, where "n" is typically 3, 5, or 6. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose (C6H12O6) and fructose (C6H12O6).

Disaccharides are composed of two monosaccharide units linked together. For instance, sucrose (table sugar) is composed of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose.

Polysaccharides are large molecules made up of many monosaccharide units linked together. Starch and glycogen are examples of polysaccharides, and they serve as storage forms of energy in plants and animals, respectively.

In summary, while the general ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in carbohydrates is 1:2:1, the actual structures and compositions of carbohydrates can vary widely depending on their specific type and function in living organisms.