Question

One of the properties of cellulose is that it is not soluble in water. What would happen if cellulose was water-soluble?

Plants would no longer be able to store carbohydrates as energy.

Leaves would not be able to conduct photosynthesis.

Cell walls of plants would no longer maintain their rigid form.

Humans would not be able to use it as a source of fiber in their diets.

Answer 1

Ans. 'Cell walls of plants would no longer maintain their rigid form.'

Cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls, that provides rigidity to the plant cells. It is made up of glucose units and is insoluble in water, due to its high molecular weight and complex crystalline structure.

The water insoluble nature of cellulose make it an important component of tough cell walls of plant cells and makes the plant leaves, branches, and stems so strong.

Thus, if cellulose was water soluble, cell walls of the plant cells would no longer able to maintain their rigid form.

Answer 2

One of the properties of cellulose is that it is not soluble in water. What would happen if cellulose was water-soluble is that cell walls of plants would no longer maintain their rigid form. So they would dissolve in water.