carbohydrate means carbon-water. Does ethane have carbon? Does the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen equal 2?(h2o)

No it is not. It does not follow the definition of carbohydrates

http://www.biology-online.org/dictionar … &submit=Go

This is just chemistry, not really biology.

Ethane is just a straight chain alkane. Alkanes are characterized by being saturated hydrocarbons, they contain only hydrogen and carbon atoms. They are saturated in the sense that they all have single bonds connecting all atoms in the compound.

Additionally, alkanes are known to have the general formula C(n) H (2n+2).

If n = 1
CH4

If n = 2
C2H6

If n = 3

C3H8

And so forth. The naming of compounds follow a set of rules designated by chemists known as the IUPAC. Carbon chains are named with the parent prefix being:

1 = meth — eg: methane (alkane)
2 = eth — eg: ethanoic acid (carboxylic acid)
3 = prop — eg: propanoate (ester)
4 = but — eg: butene (alkene)

After four, the normal system is used. Pent (pentagon, Hex (Hexagon), etc.
5 = pent
6 = hex

And so forth.

Hope that helps.
Lawrence