3.30 Carbon Monomers and Polymers
FIGURE 3.48
- Cellulose is a natural polymer of the monomer named glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ). This polymer makes up the cell
walls of plants and is the most common compound in living things. Structural formulas for cellulose and
glucose are also shown in theFigure3.49). As you can see from the structural formula for cellulose, when
two glucose monomers bond together, a molecule of water (H 2 O) is released.
FIGURE 3.49
Q:How are the glucose molecules arranged in the cellulose polymer?
A:The glucose molecules alternate between right-side up and upside down.