Multiple Choice
Which of the following best explains how dietary fiber differs from starches in terms of human digestion?
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1. Introduction to Biochemistry
Carbohydrates
Multiple Choice
Which of the following carbohydrates is the largest in terms of molecular size?
A
Cellulose
B
Sucrose
C
Glucose
D
Maltose
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the molecular structure of each carbohydrate listed: Cellulose, Sucrose, Glucose, and Maltose. Cellulose is a polysaccharide, Sucrose is a disaccharide, Glucose is a monosaccharide, and Maltose is also a disaccharide.
Recall the hierarchy of carbohydrate classification: Monosaccharides are the smallest, followed by disaccharides, and then polysaccharides, which are the largest in terms of molecular size.
Analyze the molecular composition of each carbohydrate: Glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) is a single sugar unit, Sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is composed of glucose and fructose, Maltose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) is composed of two glucose units, and Cellulose is a polymer made up of many glucose units linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds.
Recognize that polysaccharides like Cellulose consist of repeating units of monosaccharides, making them significantly larger in molecular size compared to monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Conclude that Cellulose, being a polysaccharide, is the largest carbohydrate in terms of molecular size among the options provided.
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