1.1 Polysaccharides:

Question 1

What are polysaccharides?

Answer 1

Polysaccharides are large complex polymers. Formed from very large numbers of monosaccharide units (their monomers). They are linked by glycosidic bonds.

Question 2

Why must gluecose be stored in an appropriate format?

Answer 2

Gluecose is soluble in water. This would increase the conc. of the cell contents leading to water being drawn in by osmosis. Problem is solved by converting it to starch in plants or glycogen in animals.
Starch and glycogen are storage products. They are more suitable than gluecose because:
- insoluble (no osmotic effect)
- cannot diffuse out of cell
- compact molecules - stored in small spaces
- carry high energy in their C-C and H-H bonds.