Starch and Cellulose

Part of the Food Chemistry and the Lab section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 3 of 27.

A polymer is a giant molecule of many small units. Starch and cellulose are both polymers of glucose.

We digest starch to glucose; cellulose passes through us as fiber.

Joining two glucose units gives off water. Hydrolysis breaks the link by adding the water back:

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → 2C₆H₁₂O₆

Plants make glucose by photosynthesis, from CO₂ and H₂O, using light.

Challenge

Maltose is a sugar of two glucose units. Digestion breaks it into glucose by adding water:

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆

Balance the equation.

Try it yourself

Equation balancerBalance the equation

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁H₂OC₆H₁₂O₆

Test yourself

This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Food Chemistry and the Lab

1Carbohydrates

4Food Energy and Additives

7Practice Problems

2Fats and Oils

5Laboratory Skills

3Proteins

6Experiments