which of the following elements is not present in carbohydrates
Which of the following elements is not present in carbohydrates?
Answer: Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed primarily of three elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). These elements are present in a specific ratio, typically with hydrogen and oxygen in a 2:1 ratio, similar to water (H₂O).
To determine which element is not present in carbohydrates, we need to examine the following options:
- Carbon (C)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Oxygen (O)
- Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen (N) is the element that is not present in carbohydrates. While nitrogen is a crucial component of proteins and nucleic acids, it is not a constituent of carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates include simple sugars like glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and complex polysaccharides like starch and cellulose, all of which are composed solely of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Therefore, the correct answer is Nitrogen (N).