1. Carbohydrates are aldehyde or ketone compounds with multiple hydroxyl groups or substances that can yield such compounds on hydrolysis(p. 293) 1.1 Carbohydrates are the most abundant biomolecules on earth and have multiple roles in all forms of life. 1.1.1 Carbohydrates serve as energy stores (e.g., starch in plants, glycogen in animals), fuels (e.g., glucose), and metabolic intermediates (e.., ATP, many coenzymes)