How do carbohydrates differ from hydrocarbons?

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Answer 1 · 2015-06-13T14:26:43

Carbohydrates contain #"C"#, #"H"#, and #"O"#. Hydrocarbons contain only #"C"# and #"H"#.

The typical general formula for a hydrocarbon is #C_n"H"_(2n+2)#.

An example is hexane, #"C"_6"H"_14#.

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The typical general formula for a carbohydrate is #C_n"H"_(2m)O_m # or #"C"_n("H"_2"O")_m#, where #n ≥ 3# and #m# can be different from #n#.

The name carbohydrate comes from the formula #"C"_n("H"_2"O")_m# (carbon + hydrate).

A typical carbohydrate is glucose, #"C"_6"H"_12"O"_6 #.

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All the polar #"OH"# groups in carbohydrates tend to make them soluble in water.

Hydrocarbons are nonpolar and insoluble in water.