text: Details??\nFor details a good references is given by one before me.\n\nConcept:\n\nHydrates of carbon are carbohydrates.\nThis is why the ration of H & O is always 2:1\nGeneral formula of carbohydrates is CnH2nOn where n is a natural number.\n\nThere are different carbohydrates.\nThe basic unit of carbohydrate is known as sacride.\nOne sacride unit may contain 3, 4, 5 or 6 carbon atoms. So for 6 C atoms the formula will be C6H12O6.\n\nThese sacride unites in pure form are known as monosacrides. Glucose is one example.\n\nSome times two or more monosacride units combine to form a big molecule. In such cases the compounds are referred as di sacrides or tri sacrides etc. Sucrose (sugar) is a di sacride.\n\nSome times monosacrides form long chains such as cotton. These are called polysacrides.