CELLULOSE

Question 1

WHERE IS CELLULOSE FOUND?

Answer 1

PLANT CELL WALLS

Question 2

WHAT ARE THE PROPERTIES / FUNCTIONS OF CELLULOSE?

Answer 2

• OSMOTICALLY INERT (DOESN’T AFFECT OSMOSIS)
• PROVIDES STRENGTH TO THE CELL WALL = PREVENTS OSMOTIC LYSIS / BURSTING
• ALLOWS WATER AND SUBSTANCES DISSOLVED IN WATER TO PASS FREELY INTO AND OUT OF CELLS

Question 3

WHAT IS THE MONOMER OF CELLULOSE?

Answer 3

BETA GLUCOSE

Question 4

WHAT ARE THE STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF CELLULOSE?

Answer 4

• GLUCOSE ROTATES 180°
• CHAINS ARE LONG + UNBRANCHED
• BETA 1-4 GLYCOSIDIC BONDS ARE FOUND BETWEEN BETA GLUCOSE WITHIN CELLULOSE CHAINS
• HYDROGEN BONDS ARE FOUND BETWEEN CELLULOSE CHAINS = FORM MICROFIBRILS

Question 5

WHY DO THE BETA GLUCOSE MOLECULES ROTATE 180°?

Answer 5

• SO THAT THE OH GROUPS LINE UP
• TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE WATER MOLECULE IN THE CONDENSATION REACTION THAT FORMS GLYCOSIDIC BONDS

Question 6

WHAT HAPPENS DUE TO THE INVERSION OF THE BETA GLUCOSE?

Answer 6

MANY HYDROGEN BONDS FORM BETWEEN LOMG CHAINS = PROVIDES STRENGTH (MICROFIBRILS)