Final answer:
Polysaccharide synthesis involves the creation of glycosidic bonds during dehydration synthesis, which requires energy as it is not spontaneously energetically favorable.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polysaccharide synthesis involves the formation of a glycosidic bond between simple sugars, which is a key aspect of carbohydrate biochemistry. This process, also known as dehydration synthesis, is where two monosaccharides unite and a molecule of water is released, resulting in the formation of a covalent bond that joins the sugars. To initiate and sustain this reaction, energy is necessary because the formation of glycosidic bonds is energetically unfavorable and thus requires an input of potential energy — the stored energy that matter possesses due to its positioning or structure.
A glycosidic linkage may be either an alpha or beta type, depending on the orientation of the hydroxyl group on the carbon atom where the linkage occurs. This biochemical property is what determines the structure and function of the complex carbohydrates known as polysaccharides, which consist of more than two carbohydrate monomers bonded together.