Question

What is the basic structural difference between starch and cellulose?

Answer 1

Starch consists of two components − amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is a long linear chain of α−D−(+)−glucose units joined by C₁−C₄ glycosidic linkages (α-link).

                                                Amylose

Amylopectin is a branched-chain polymer of α-D-glucose units, in which the chain is formed by C₁−C₄ glycosidic linkage and the branching occurs by C₁−C₆ glycosidic linkage.

                                        Amylopectin

On the other hand, cellulose is a straight-chain polysaccharide of β-D-glucose units joined by C₁−C₄ glycosidic linkage (β-link).

                                  Cellulose