Final answer:
Carbohydrates are carbon compounds that serve as the main source of energy for organisms, consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a ratio that mirrors water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of carbon compound that is the main source of energy, containing carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) with a water ratio, is known as a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates have a stoichiometric formula of (CH₂O)n, which reflects a 1:2:1 ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen, implying that for every carbon atom, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, comparable to the composition of water (H₂O). This molecular organization underscores why the term carbohydrate is derived from 'carbo' for carbon and 'hydrate' for water.
Carbohydrates serve as primary energy storage compounds and are classified into three subtypes: monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. They are composed of repeating units called monosaccharides. Common examples like glucose (C6H12O6) are synthesized through the process of photosynthesis, which utilizes carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and sunlight.