Cellulose is A) a polymer composed of fructose monomers B) a storage polysaccharide for energy in plant cells C) used by plants to make glycogen D) a major structural component of plant cell walls E) a monomer of starch
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is D) a major structural component of plant cell walls.
Explanation:
Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, specifically a polysaccharide, composed of many glucose units linked together in a linear chain. Its structure, characterized by beta-1,4 glycosidic linkages between glucose monomers, allows the chains to form strong, rigid structures through hydrogen bonding between adjacent chains.
This specific molecular arrangement is what gives cellulose its remarkable strength and insolubility. This makes it ideal for its primary function in plants: providing structural support. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and is the chief component of the cell walls of plants.