Final answer:
When many disaccharide molecules are combined, a polysaccharide is formed. Starch is an example of a polysaccharide that provides an essential energy source for humans and animals by breaking down into glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
When multiple disaccharide molecules are combined, the type of molecule that is formed is a polysaccharide. Disaccharides are carbohydrates made by joining two monosaccharides together. These disaccharides can further undergo condensation reactions to form long chains known as polysaccharides. Starch, cellulose, and glycogen are all examples of polysaccharides.
Starch is a storage polysaccharide found in plants and is made up of many glucose monomers. The glucose units are linked by glycosidic bonds formed during dehydration reactions. For animals and humans, starch is an essential source of energy because it breaks down into glucose during digestion.
If we look at examples like cellulose and starch, we can identify them as types of polysaccharides. Cellulose is another polysaccharide that, unlike starch, is a structural component in the cell walls of plants. Both of these substances are composed of glucose monomers assembled in different ways, hence their distinct properties and roles in plant biology.