Tag: Hydrated carbon

Did you know that carbohydrates are some of the most abundant and widespread organic substances in nature? Delving into their composition reveals the chemical reason why are carbohydrates called by that name, connecting their title to their molecular makeup.

The term 'carbohydrate' originated from the 19th-century observation that many of these compounds fit the simple empirical formula of hydrated carbon, $C_x(H_2O)_y$. However, pinpointing the correct formula for a carbohydrate is more nuanced than this simple representation suggests, as the formula varies depending on the specific molecule's complexity and structure.