Are Carbohydrates Soluble in Water?

Carbohydrates are soluble in water. All carbohydrates are considered sugars. Sugars are soluble in water due to the vast number of hydroxyl groups they contain.

A hydroxyl group has the ability to form a hydrogen bond, which increases the water solubility factor of a compound, thus making carbohydrates water soluble. A carbohydrate is a molecular compound that is made from three different elements: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are also referred to as saccharides, which are sugars. Monosaccharides are single sugars and, when two link together, they form disaccharides, or double sugars.