polysaccharides

• What are long chains of sugars called?

  Polysaccharides
• Name three examples of polysaccharides.

  Starch, Glycogen, Cellulose
• What type of glucose is starch made of?

  α-glucose
• What type of glucose is cellulose made of?

  β-glucose
• What is the solubility of polysaccharides?

  They are insoluble carbohydrates
• What is the primary function of starch and glycogen?

  Energy-storage molecules
• Where is starch primarily found?

  In plants
• Where is glycogen primarily found?

  In animals
• What are the two forms of starch?

  Amylose and Amylopectin
• How is starch structured?

  It can be branched or unbranched
• How does glycogen differ from amylopectin?

  Glycogen is more heavily branched
• Why are polysaccharides insoluble?

  To prevent decreasing water potential
• Why are polysaccharides large?

  To prevent diffusion out of the cell
• What allows amylose to be compact?

  It coils
• How do amylopectin and glycogen facilitate faster glucose release?

  They are branched, allowing more enzyme binding
• What solution is used to test for starch?

  Iodine solution
• What color indicates the presence of starch in a test?

  Blue-black
• What is cellulose composed of?

  β-glucose
• What type of glycosidic bonds does cellulose have?

  Alternating glycosidic bonds
• How do cellulose chains differ from glycogen chains?

  Cellulose chains are straight and unbranched
• What forms between parallel cellulose chains?

  Weak hydrogen bonds
• What is the main function of cellulose?

  Provide structure and support to plant cell walls
• Compare the structures of cellulose and glycogen.

  • Similarity: Both contain glycosidic bonds
  • Differences:
  • Glycogen: made of α-glucose, branched
  • Cellulose: made of β-glucose, unbranched
  • Cellulose has alternating glycosidic bonds; glycogen has same-side bonds
  • Cellulose has hydrogen bonds between chains; glycogen does not
• What is chitin and where is it found?

  It is a polysaccharide in animal exoskeletons
• What should students be able to describe regarding polysaccharides?

  Their basic structures and functions
• What biochemical test should students describe for starch?

  The test using iodine solution