Chitin

• why is chitin different to cellulose

  some of the OH groups are replaced by nitrogen containing acetylamine groups
• what does the acetlyamine groups make chitin

  a mucopolysaccharide
• what does chitin do

  • forms the exoskeleton of arthropods such as insects + arachnids
  • cell walls of fungi
• describe the function of chitin

  structural role in insects/exoskeletons
• describe the chain type of chitin

  • straight
  • modified b-glucose
• describe the monomer of chitin

  b-glucose
• describe the properties of chitin

  • waterproof
  • lightweight
  • strong
• describe the type of glycosidic bond of chitin

  b(1-4)