Is CH2O a Carbohydrate? An Investigation into the Formula
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4 min read
While it is a common simplification, the empirical formula CH2O does not mean that every compound with this ratio is a carbohydrate. This basic formula represents the 1:2:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms found in the simplest sugars, but the specific molecular arrangement is what truly defines a carbohydrate.
