Cellulose Flashcards
1
Q
Cellulose is
a structural
A
- a structural polysaccharide present in plant cell walls
-most abundant organic molecule on earth
2
Q
An individual cellulose is a
A
-long chain of bet a glucose units joined by beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds to make a straight unbranched chain, the beta link rotates the adjacent glucose molecules by 180 degrees
3
Q
How is a microfibril formed
A
-hydrogen bonds form between O-H groups
-the parallel cellulose molecules become tightly packed and form a bundle called a microfibril
4
Q
Where are microfibrils held
A
-held in bundles called fibres
5
Q
What has many layers of fibres
A
-cell wall
6
Q
Why is cellulose freely permeable
A
-because in the spaces between fibres, water and solutes can penetrate through these spaces in the cell wall to cell membrane
