What is the Chemical Formula Ratio for Carbohydrates?
                                
                                
                                •
                                
                                
                        
                                    
                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                The term "carbohydrate" literally means "hydrated carbon". For simple carbohydrates, this name points to a distinctive feature: a chemical formula ratio of approximately one carbon atom to one molecule of water. This defining ratio is represented by the general empirical formula $(CH_2O)_n$.