Question

What is the general formula of carbohydrates? Why is this formula not applicable to all carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Hint: Carbohydrates are the source of energy in our body and are considered as one of three main classes of food. The carbohydrates found in the human body are sugars and starches.

Complete step by step answer: The term carbohydrate is an organic compound which is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The name indicates the combination of the hydrates of carbon.
They are also referred to as saccharide which comes from the Greek word “Sakcharon” which means sugar. In chemical terms carbohydrates are defined as the substances or molecules which on hydrolysis generate polyhydroxy aldehyde or polyhydroxy ketones.
The most common carbohydrates that are used in our daily life are either sugars or starches. The sugars are Glucose, Sucrose, Fructose, Cellulose, Maltose etc. The starches used daily come from rice, grain, cereal, bread, potatoes etc.
The carbohydrates generally are represented by the general formula of\[{\left( {C{H_2}O} \right)_n}\] . The n stands for any whole number which ranges from three to eight. Thus the three constituents of carbohydrate are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Carbohydrates in the form of sugar exist as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. The most common monosaccharides are glucose, galactose, and fructose.
The formula of carbohydrates \[{\left( {C{H_2}O} \right)_n}\] only applies to simple sugars and contain equal ratios of carbon and water. Some complex sugars, which do not follow this general formula, are also found as carbohydrates.

Note:
When a large number of monosaccharides (hundreds or thousands) condenses together, leads to formation of polysaccharides. The taste of these compounds is not sweet and they are termed as non-sugars. Acetic acid and formaldehyde fits in the formula but are not carbohydrates.