Chapter 23, Problem 1TE

Does a carbohydrate contain water?

To determine

The presence of water in a carbohydrate.

Answer to Problem 1TE

The general molecular formula of carbohydrate is ${\text{C}}_x{\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)}_y$. Thus, the carbohydrate molecules contain water.

Explanation of Solution

The hydrate of carbon is commonly known by the name carbohydrate. It was originally a class of compounds which contains carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The presence of hydrogen and oxygen is in the combined state as water.

The general chemical equation for the formation of carbohydrate is shown below.

$x{\text{CO}}_2+y{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\underset{\text{Chlorophyll}}{\overset{\text{Sunlight}}{\to }}\underset{\text{Carbohydrate}}{{\text{C}}_x{\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)}_y}+x{\text{O}}_2$

Thus, the general molecular formula of carbohydrate is ${\text{C}}_x{\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)}_y$.

Hence, it can be said that the carbohydrate molecules contains water.

Conclusion:

The hydrogen and oxygen present in combined form in the form of ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$ molecules in a carbohydrate that is ${\text{C}}_x{\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)}_y$. Thus, it is true that the carbohydrate molecules contain water.