A carbohydrate is a sugar (saccharide) or a sugar derivative. For the simplest carbohydrates, the carbon-to-hydrogen-to-oxygen atomic ratio is 1:2:1, i.e. they are often represented by the empirical formula . Together with amino acids, fats, and nucleic acids, the carbohydrates are one of the major families of biomolecules.

Carbohydrates perform numerous roles in living