The two elements which are present in proteins but generally absent in

The two elements which are present in proteins but generally absent in carbohydrates are

Carbon and Hydrogen.
Carbon and Nitrogen.
Nitrogen and Sulphur.
Sulphur and Hydrogen.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2021
Proteins are complex organic molecules that always contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Many proteins also contain sulphur (due to the presence of amino acids like cysteine and methionine). Carbohydrates are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in a ratio of CnH2nOn or similar forms. Therefore, nitrogen and sulphur are elements typically found in proteins but generally absent in carbohydrates.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids. Each amino acid contains an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (R-group) attached to a central alpha carbon. The nitrogen atom is a defining component of the amino group. Carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches, are primarily composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, often in a 1:2:1 ratio for H:O.
While nitrogen is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), it is not found in carbohydrates or typical lipids. Sulphur is present in some amino acids (cysteine, methionine) and therefore in many proteins, as well as in some vitamins, but it is not a component of carbohydrates. Carbon and hydrogen are fundamental elements present in all organic molecules, including both proteins and carbohydrates.
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