alleryStart learning →What is the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen in a carbohydrate?
A1 to 1 to 2
B2 to 1 to 1
C1 to 2 to 1
D1 to 2 to 2
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. 1 to 2 to 1
1. Carbohydrates follow the stoichiometric formula CH2O repeated n times, where n is the carbon count.
2. Reading that formula off gives one carbon, two hydrogens and one oxygen per unit.
3. So the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1 to 2 to 1.
4. That same ratio explains the name, since the molecule carries carbon plus the components of water.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 3 "Biological Macromolecules", section 3.2 Carbohydrates_
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