Question
Question: Structurally, cellulose is a linear polymer of: A.\(\beta \) -D-glucose unit B.Sucrose molecules...
Structurally, cellulose is a linear polymer of:
A.β -D-glucose unit
B.Sucrose molecules
C.α -d glucose units
D.Glucose and fructose unit
Solution
We know that glucose is an organic compound which has many polymers. These polymers exist to form various chemical compounds. It is a monosaccharide. Cellulose is a polymer of glucose but it is polysaccharide. It is formed with long linear chains of β -D-glucose unit.
Complete answer:
We can draw the structure of β−D−glucose is
This structure forms a long chain by replacing one hydrogen atom from the alcohol group and bonding with the adjacent oxygen atom of the other group. Thus, to form a new compound so called cellulose.
So here, we have the answer that cellulose is obtained by a long chain of β−D−glucose.
Now, let us know what the other structures form.
The α−D−glucose when combined to form long chains, they form starch (amylose).
The structure can be visualized as –
Sucrose is also called sugar and commonly used as sugar. It is a complex compound like cellulose and starch. It is formed by monosaccharides – glucose and fructose.
The structure can be represented as
Hence, the correct answer to the given question is A. β−D−glucose units.
Note:
-We have to remember that glucose, fructose, and sucrose are called carbohydrates. There are many other carbohydrates as well like – galactose, maltose, lactose, etc. They are formed by long chain bonding of monosaccharide compounds to form disaccharide and polysaccharide compounds.
-Carbohydrates are distinguished in two different forms. One is simple, which consists of monosaccharides – glucose, fructose and galactose and disaccharides – maltose, sucrose and lactose. The other form is complex structures like – starch, glycogen and fiber.