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Multiple Choice
Which of the following characteristics best describes a carbohydrate?
A
It is a polymer of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
B
It is a hydrophobic molecule composed mainly of long hydrocarbon chains.
C
It is a nucleic acid containing a phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases.
D
It is an organic molecule composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the definition of a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are organic molecules composed primarily of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms, typically in a 1:2:1 ratio. This ratio is a key characteristic of carbohydrates.
Step 2: Compare the given options to the definition of a carbohydrate. Eliminate options that describe other macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids.
Step 3: Analyze the first option: 'It is a polymer of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.' This describes proteins, not carbohydrates, as proteins are made of amino acids connected by peptide bonds.
Step 4: Analyze the second option: 'It is a hydrophobic molecule composed mainly of long hydrocarbon chains.' This describes lipids, which are hydrophobic and primarily composed of hydrocarbon chains, not carbohydrates.
Step 5: Analyze the third option: 'It is a nucleic acid containing a phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases.' This describes nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, not carbohydrates. The correct answer is the fourth option: 'It is an organic molecule composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio,' which matches the definition of carbohydrates.