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Chapter 18: Problem 25

Which carbohydrate do plants use to help maintain their shape, starch or cellulose? Explain why.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Plants use cellulose to help maintain their shape, not starch. This is because cellulose is the primary structural component of the cell wall in plants, providing strength and rigidity to plant cells. Starch, on the other hand, is mainly for energy storage and does not directly contribute to the shape and structure of plants.

Step by step solution

01

Identifying the function of starch

Starch is a polysaccharide carbohydrate composed of glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. It serves as the main energy storage molecule for plants. When plants need energy, starch is broken down into glucose, which is used for various metabolic processes.
02

Identifying the function of cellulose

Cellulose is a long-chain polysaccharide carbohydrate made of glucose units connected by beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds. It is the primary structural component of the cell wall in plants and is responsible for providing both strength and rigidity to plant cells.
03

Comparing the functions of starch and cellulose

While both starch and cellulose are composed of glucose units, the way these units are connected in their structure gives them different properties and functions. Starch is used for energy storage in plants, while cellulose is a structural component that provides plants with their shape, strength, and rigidity.
04

Determining which carbohydrate helps plants maintain their shape

Since cellulose is the main structural component of plant cell walls and provides strength and rigidity to plant cells, it is the carbohydrate that helps plants maintain their shape. Starch, on the other hand, serves mainly as an energy storage molecule and does not directly contribute to the shape and structure of plants.
05

Summary

In conclusion, cellulose is the carbohydrate that plants use to help maintain their shape. It is a structural component of plant cell walls and provides the necessary strength and rigidity for plants to maintain their shape, while starch is an energy storage molecule that does not contribute directly to plant structure.

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