Question

question 4 of 30
what type of biological molecule is made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1?

a. nucleic acids
b. lipids
c. proteins
d. carbohydrates

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze the molecular composition of each option:

• Option A: Nucleic acids are made of nucleotides, which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. They do not follow the 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O.
• Option B: Lipids have a variable ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and typically have much less oxygen than the 1:2:1 ratio.
• Option C: Proteins are made of amino acids, which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur. They do not follow the 1:2:1 ratio of C:H:O.
• Option D: Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, and their empirical formula is often \( \text{CH}_2\text{O} \), which corresponds to a ratio of 1:2:1 for C:H:O.

Answer:

D. Carbohydrates