Monosaccharides have what general formula?

Monosaccharides have what general formula?

• A. (CH2O)n
• B. C(H2O)n
• C. C6H12O6
• D. (CH3O)n

Answer: (A)

Monosaccharides are carbohydrates that build up with a repeating CH2O unit, so their general formula is (CH2O)n. This reflects the consistent 1:2:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in each unit, and it explains why glucose (C6H12O6) fits the pattern as (CH2O)6. The other way of writing the same idea, C(H2O)n, is not the standard form, and a specific sugar like C6H12O6 describes one example rather than the whole family. A formula like (CH3O)n would disrupt the H:O ratio and doesn’t match how monosaccharides are composed.

Monosaccharides are carbohydrates that build up with a repeating CH2O unit, so their general formula is (CH2O)n. This reflects the consistent 1:2:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in each unit, and it explains why glucose (C6H12O6) fits the pattern as (CH2O)6. The other way of writing the same idea, C(H2O)n, is not the standard form, and a specific sugar like C6H12O6 describes one example rather than the whole family. A formula like (CH3O)n would disrupt the H:O ratio and doesn’t match how monosaccharides are composed.