UNIT 1 CARBOHYDRATES Introduction to Carbohydrates in Biochemistry Carbohydrates are one of the four primary classes of biomolecules, which also include proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. They play a crucial role in the structure and function of living organisms. Carbohydrates are organic compounds made up of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms, typically with a hydrogen to oxygen atom ratio of 2:1, as in water (H₂O). Their general