Definition

Carbohydrates, commonly referred to as sugars, are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones with molecular formula CxH2xOx.

Explanation

Carbohydrates form one of the major macronutrient compounds for living organisms. Energy, in the form of ATP, is derived from carbohydrates. Let’s look at the most common known carbohydrate, glucose:

Structural reaction scheme for Carbohydrates
Figure. Carbohydrates