What is the old definition of carbohydrates?
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3 min read
In the mid-19th century, chemists first coined the term 'carbohydrate' based on a simple, yet flawed, observation. This old definition described these compounds as 'hydrates of carbon,' represented by the empirical formula $C_n(H_2O)_m$, reflecting the seeming equal ratio of hydrogen and oxygen atoms to those in water.
