What is the general formula of carbohydrates?*

The general formula for carbohydrates is Cn(H2O)n. This formula means that for every carbon atom (C), there are two hydrogen atoms (H2) and one oxygen atom (O). This ratio (1C:2H:1O) is where the term 'carbohydrate' or 'hydrates of carbon' comes from.

In this formula, 'n' is a variable that can change, depending on the specific carbohydrate. For example, in glucose, a simple sugar or monosaccharide, n=6, so the formula is C6H12O6. For other carbohydrates, like fructose, n also equals 6, but the arrangement of atoms is slightly different.

In more complex carbohydrates, like disaccharides and polysaccharides, the formula can change slightly because these molecules lose water molecules when they form. However, the basic Cn(H2O)n formula still applies to the individual monosaccharide units that make up these larger molecules.