How to Identify a Carbohydrate by Its Chemical Formula
•
5 min read
The term 'carbohydrate' literally means 'hydrates of carbon,' a name derived from the original observation that many of these compounds had the simple empirical formula $C_n(H_2O)_n$. While this classic formula provides an excellent starting point, a more precise chemical definition is required to definitively identify a carbohydrate by looking at its chemical formula.
