Which of the following chemical formulas represents that of a simple carbohydrate?

• A. C₂H₂O₂
• B. C₆H₁₂O₆
• C. C₅H₄O₃
• D. C₃H₆O₉

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the general formula for simple carbohydrates, which is typically (CH2O)n, where n is a whole number.
2. Identify the molecular formula of each option given in the problem: C2H2O2, C6H12O6, C5H4O3, and C3H6O9.
3. For each formula, check if it fits the pattern (CH2O)n by comparing the ratio of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms.
4. Calculate the ratio of hydrogen to carbon and oxygen for each formula to see if it matches the 2:1:1 ratio characteristic of simple carbohydrates.
5. Determine which formula has the correct ratio and structure to be classified as a simple carbohydrate.