Which feature is true of cellulose and accounts for its strength?
Correct answer: B. It has OH groups that form hydrogen bonds with adjacent cellulose molecules
- A. It contains both α-1, 4 and α-1, 6 links between glucose units
- B. It has OH groups that form hydrogen bonds with adjacent cellulose molecules
- C. It is a fibrous molecule that is insoluble in water
- D. It is made up of long, branched and coiled chains of β-glucose units with 1, 4 links
Explanation
Cellulose is a polysaccharide consisting of β-glucose units linked by β-1, 4 glycosidic bonds. The hydroxyl (OH) groups on these glucose units form hydrogen bonds with OH groups on adjacent cellulose chains. This extensive hydrogen bonding network results in a rigid, strong structure capable of withstanding mechanical stress, which is why cellulose is a key structural component in plant cell walls.Option A is incorrect because α-1, 4 and α-1, 6 linkages are characteristics of starch, not cellulose. Option C correctly describes some properties of cellulose but does not explain the strength derived from hydrogen bonding. Option D incorrectly describes cellulose as branched and coiled; it is actually linear, and its strength arises from its linear nature and the hydrogen bonding between chains.
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