The term “carbohydrate” comes from the Greek word sakharon meaning “sugar”. In the field of chemistry, carbohydrates comprise the most common type of organic compounds with simple structures. A carbohydrate is an aldehyde , or one that contains other hydroxyl groups. The most basic carbohydrates are known as monosaccharides. They have the fundamental structure (C*H2O)n where 3 or more is the minimum.