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Question: The general formula of carbohydrates is: A.\[{C_n}{H_{2n + 1}}O\] B.\[{C_n}{H_{2n}}O\] C.\[{C_...

The general formula of carbohydrates is:
A.CnH2n+1O{C_n}{H_{2n + 1}}O
B.CnH2nO{C_n}{H_{2n}}O
C.Cn(H2O)n{C_n}{({H_2}O)_n}
D.Cn(H2O)2n{C_n}{({H_2}O)_{2n}}

Explanation

Solution

Glucose is one of most important carbohydrates having the structural formula C6H12O6{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}. Its simplest or empirical formula comes out to be CH2OC{H_2}O.

Complete step by step answer:
The empirical formula of a carbohydrate comes from the fact that a carbohydrate is a biomolecule consists of carbon(C), hydrogen(H) and oxygen(O) atoms, with a hydrogen-oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 and the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1:2:1. So we can refer to it as carbon water or hydrates of carbon and represent it as (CH2O)n{(C{H_2}O)_n}, where n can be any number greater than 3. Therefore, it can also be written as Cn(H2O)n{C_n}{({H_2}O)_n}. This formula explains the meaning of the term ‘carbohydrate’ i.e. the components are carbon for carbon and water for hydrate. The simplest carbohydrate thus formed by putting n as 1 is glucose, C6H12O6{C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}.

Hence, the correct option is (C).

Note:
This general formula has many exceptions. For example, acetic acid (CH3COOHC{H_3}COOH) will fit in the general formula described for carbohydrates but it is not a carbohydrate. Similarly, formaldehyde (HCHO) is not a carbohydrate yet falls under this category.