What type of polymer are starch and cellulose classified as?

Starch and cellulose are classified as carbohydrates because they are both polysaccharides, which are long chains of glucose units linked together. Carbohydrates are essential biomolecules that play a crucial role in energy storage and providing structural support in plants and other organisms.

Starch serves as a major energy storage molecule in plants, consisting of numerous glucose units that can be broken down when the plant requires energy. On the other hand, cellulose is a key component of the plant cell wall, providing rigidity and structural integrity due to its unique bonding pattern and the way the glucose units are linked.

Other categories, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, involve different types of molecules with distinct structures and functions. While proteins are made of amino acids, nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA) are polymers of nucleotides, and lipids include fats and oils that are not polymers in the same way carbohydrates are. Thus, the classification of starch and cellulose as carbohydrates accurately reflects their structure and role in biological systems.