Cell walls are used by many different organisms for protection from their environment and structural support. These cell walls must obviously be insoluble in water; otherwise, they would dissolve the first time an organism got wet. Which of the following carbohydrates would you expect to be most soluble in water?
A) starch
B) peptidoglycan
C) cellulose
D) chitin

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Starch is a polysaccharide made up of glucose monomers that are connected in a way that makes them easily digestible by organisms. It is also water-soluble, making it easy to transport throughout an organism's body. In contrast, peptidoglycan, cellulose, and chitin are all components of cell walls and are insoluble in water.

Cell Walls Are Used by Many Different Organisms for Protection