Cellulose

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cellulose

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?(C6H10O5)n
2. What is the molecular structure?Linear polymer of β-(1→4)-linked D-glucose units
3. Why are plants strong because of cellulose?The glucose chains are linked in a special way that lets them stick together with hydrogen bonds. These bonds form tiny fibers called microfibrils that give plants a lot of strength and help them stand up.
4. How does cellulose help the Earth?It stores a lot of carbon from the air, which helps keep the planet's temperature balanced. When it breaks down, tiny microbes turn it into food for soil and other plants.

Polysaccharide: A complex carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharide units, such as glucose.
Microfibrils: Microscopic, thread-like structures formed by aligned cellulose molecules held by hydrogen bonds.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis: The breakdown of a compound by enzymes in the presence of water.
Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs): Highly crystalline nanoparticles derived from cellulose with exceptional strength and stiffness.