Carbohydrates
Cellulose differs from starch in that cellulose contains:
Select the correct option:
Solution
β-1,4-glycosidic linkages between glucose units
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide made of D-glucose units linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. This linkage causes the glucose residues to alternate orientation, allowing extended straight chains that form strong hydrogen bonds between adjacent strands — giving cellulose its rigid, fibrous structure (plant cell walls). Starch (amylose) uses α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, producing a helical coiled structure. Glycogen and amylopectin additionally have α-1,6-glycosidic bonds at branch points. Humans cannot digest cellulose because we lack the enzyme cellulase (β-glucosidase).
🔒 Solution Hidden from View
Submit your answer to unlock the detailed step-by-step solution.
More carbohydrates Practice Questions
Both D-glucose and D-fructose give the same osazone when treated with excess phenylhydrazine, despit...
Both D-glucose and D-fructose give the same osazone when treated with excess phenylhydrazine, despit...
On treatment with concentrated nitric acid, D-glucose is oxidised at both ends of its carbon chain t...
On treatment with concentrated nitric acid, D-glucose is oxidised at both ends of its carbon chain t...
Both maltose and lactose are disaccharides that give a positive Fehling's test and undergo mutarotat...
Both maltose and lactose are disaccharides that give a positive Fehling's test and undergo mutarotat...
A carbohydrate sample cannot be hydrolysed into any simpler sugar and contains a single polyhydroxy ...
A carbohydrate sample cannot be hydrolysed into any simpler sugar and contains a single polyhydroxy ...
Sucrose does not reduce Tollens' reagent or Fehling's solution even though it is a disaccharide buil...
Sucrose does not reduce Tollens' reagent or Fehling's solution even though it is a disaccharide buil...
Open-chain D-glucose reacts with hydroxylamine to give an oxime and adds one molecule of hydrogen cy...
Open-chain D-glucose reacts with hydroxylamine to give an oxime and adds one molecule of hydrogen cy...
About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- biomolecules
- Topic
- carbohydrates
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
β-1,4-glycosidic linkages between glucose units
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide made of D-glucose units linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. This linkage causes the glucose residues to alternate orientation, allowing extended straight chains that form strong hydrogen bonds between adjacent strands — giving cellulose its rigid, fibrous structure (plant cell walls). Starch (amylose) uses α-1,4-glycosidic bonds, producing a helical coiled structure. Glycogen and amylopectin additionally have α-1,6-glycosidic bonds at branch points. Humans cannot digest cellulose because we lack the enzyme cellulase (β-glucosidase).
This medium difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter biomolecules, covering the topic of carbohydrates. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
Looking for more practice? Explore all chemistry questions or browse biomolecules questions on RankGuru.