BRAINCAKECellulose
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide and the main component of plant cell walls. It is the most abundant organic molecule on Earth.
Cellulose is a polymer of β-glucose joined by 1,4-glycosidic bonds. In β-glucose the –OH on carbon 1 is above the ring, so to form each bond every other glucose unit must be rotated 180°. As a result the chain is straight and unbranched, not coiled like amylose.
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Key terms in this lesson
- tensile strength
- The ability of a material to withstand a pulling or stretching force without breaking.
More in Biological Molecules
- Polysaccharides
- Starch
- Test for Starch
- Glycogen
- The Nature of Lipids
- Fatty Acids and Glycerol
- Triglycerides
- Phospholipids
All 25 lessons in Biological Molecules · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics