Amylose and cellulose are both unbranched plant polysaccharides composed of glucose molecules linked via (1->4) glucosidic bonds. Amylose is a storage carbohydrate that is readily digested by animals, whereas cellulose is a structural carbohydrate that is not digested by animals. Describe the chemical characteristics of the two polymers and the involvement of weak forces that account for their functional differences. The Chemical Characteristics of Amylose and Cellulose and the Involvement of Weak Forces

Chemical Characteristics of Cellulose and Amylose, and The Involvement in Weak Forces

Two major carbohydrates are cellulose and amylose. They are vital for organisms’ growth and development. Amylose can be described as an unbranched, non-branched chain made up of glucose monomers and linked with?(1?4) Glycosidic bonds are a unbranched, non-branched chain made up of glucose monomers.?cellulose, on the other hand, is a linear and unbranched chain that consists of?(1?4) glycosidic bonds (Kaur et al., 2020). These molecules both contain glucose molecules but differ in how they arrange their glycosidic links. Both types of carbohydrates have different structural characteristics. Amylose is a linear and cellulose is highly branched. (Venkata. et. al., 2016). Functional properties can be explained by the different chemical attributes of amylose or cellulose. Amylose can be dissolved in more water than cellulose, and it is also less susceptible to enzyme hydrolysis (Kaur und al. 2020). However, cellulose is stronger than cellulose due to strong hydrogen bonds between glucose molecules and therefore, more resistant to hydrolysis. (Venkata, et. al., 2016,). The different weak forces present in every molecule are responsible for the differences in their functional properties. Cont….