OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

Which atoms are fundamental components of carbohydrates?

1. Carbon, Nitrogen, and Oxygen

2. Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon

3. Carbon, Hydrogen, and Sulfur

4. Oxygen, Sodium, and Hydrogen

The correct answer is: Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon

Carbohydrates are organic molecules that mainly serve as energy sources and structural materials in living organisms. Their fundamental components are carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which typically adhere to a general formula of \( C_n(H_2O)_n \), indicating that for every carbon atom, there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. In carbohydrates, the arrangement of these atoms plays a crucial role in the formation of monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. The presence of carbon allows for the molecular diversity and complexity of carbohydrates, while hydrogen and oxygen contribute to the molecule's functional properties, including solubility and energy release during metabolic processes. The other choices include atoms that do not specifically correlate with the structure of carbohydrates. For instance, nitrogen and sulfur do not play a primary role in the formation of carbohydrate structures, as they are more commonly associated with proteins and nucleic acids. Sodium, while an essential element in biological systems, does not form part of carbohydrate molecules.