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Cellulose cannot be digested by humans because A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 12 - 2002 - Paper 1
Question 12
Cellulose cannot be digested by humans because A. it is insoluble in water. B. it contains no glucose. C. it is not a carbohydrate. D. the enzymes required to cataly... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Cellulose cannot be digested by humans because A - VCE - SSCE Chemistry - Question 12 - 2002 - Paper 1
Step 1
B. it contains no glucose.
Answer
Cellulose is a polysaccharide made up of glucose units; however, the glucose in cellulose is in a form (β-glucose) that humans cannot break down. Humans lack the necessary enzymes, such as cellulase, required to hydrolyze the β-glycosidic bonds in cellulose, which is why it cannot be digested.