What is the general formula of carbohydrates? Why is this formula not applicable to all carbohydrates?

The general formula of carbohydrates is (CH2O)n, where "n" represents the number of carbon atoms in the molecule. This formula suggests that carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in a ratio that approximates 1:2:1.

However, it's important to note that while this formula applies to many simple carbohydrates, such as monosaccharides and some disaccharides, it is not applicable to all carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, such as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, do not fit the (CH2O)n formula precisely.

The reason for this discrepancy is that complex carbohydrates are formed by the joining of multiple monosaccharide units through glycosidic bonds. As a result, the repeated monosaccharide units in complex carbohydrates can vary in the number of carbon atoms and exhibit more diverse structures.

For example, starch and cellulose, both polysaccharides, are composed of glucose units, but they have different linkages between the glucose molecules and, therefore, different structures. Additionally, carbohydrates can have functional groups or modifications that alter their chemical properties and make them deviate from the simple (CH2O)n formula.

In summary, the (CH2O)n formula provides a useful approximation for simple carbohydrates but does not account for the structural complexity and variations present in all carbohydrates.