Question

Which of the following is a polysaccharide?

• A. maltose
• B. sucrose
• C. fructose
• D. cellulose

Hint:

Remember the "Big Three" polysaccharides often tested in biology and chemistry:

1. Starch (Energy storage in plants)
2. Glycogen (Energy storage in animals)
3. Cellulose (Structural component of plant cell walls)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: Carbohydrates are classified into three main groups based on their complexity and the number of sugar units they contain: Monosaccharides: The simplest form of sugar (e.g., glucose, fructose). 
Disaccharides: Formed by the union of two monosaccharides (e.g., sucrose, maltose, lactose). 
Polysaccharides: Complex carbohydrates made of long chains of monosaccharide units joined by glycosidic bonds (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose). 
Analyzing the given options. Fructose: It is a simple sugar with the formula $C_6H_12O_6$. It cannot be hydrolyzed further, making it a monosaccharide. Maltose: It consists of two glucose units linked together. Since it is composed of two units, it is a disaccharide. Sucrose: Common table sugar, composed of one glucose and one fructose unit. It is also a disaccharide. Cellulose: It is a linear polymer of hundreds to thousands of D-glucose units. Because it is a long-chain macromolecule, it is classified as a polysaccharide.