organooxygen compound carbohydrates and carbohydrate derivatives carbohydrates and their derivatives carbohydrates and derivatives Any organooxygen compound that is a polyhydroxy-aldehyde or -ketone, or a compound derived from one. Carbohydrates contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and usually have an empirical formula C<small>_<em>m</em></small>(H<small>₂</small>O)<small>_<em>n</em></small>; carbohydrate derivatives may contain other elements by substitution or condensation. CHEBI:78616 chebi_ontology