Question

What is the minimum number of carbon atoms to be present in a carbohydrate?

• A. $2$
• B. $3$
• C. $4$
• D. $5$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $3$

Basic definition for a carbohydrate is that it is a polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone. So, if it contains less than $3$ carbon atoms, then, it can not have more than one hydroxyl group and a carbonyl group simultaneously.
Hence, (b) is correct.