95.6k views
3 votes
Glucose and starch are both types of carbohydrates. Which one is made up of larger molecules?

a) Neither glucose nor starch
b) Only starch
c) Only glucose
d) It depends on the specific form of glucose and starch.

User Ivanhoe
by
6.9k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Starch is composed of many glucose units and is a complex carbohydrate, making its molecules much larger than those of glucose. Therefore, starch is the one made up of larger molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

When it comes to carbohydrates, glucose and starch are two essential types that serve different roles. Glucose is a simple sugar, also known as a monosaccharide, and is a single molecule unit. In contrast, starch is made up of numerous glucose units, resulting in a much larger molecular structure. Starches like amylose and amylopectin, are polysaccharides, and are composed of hundreds to thousands of glucose monomers linked together through glycosidic bonds.

Glucose serves as a basic energy source for living organisms, whereas starch is a complex carbohydrate that functions as an energy store in plants. During digestion in humans, starch is broken down into glucose units to be used as energy. Starch molecules are much larger than glucose because they are comprised of multiple glucose molecules bonded together in long chains or branched structures.

Therefore, the correct answer to which one is made up of larger molecules is b) Only starch.

User Pardahlman
by
7.8k points