Difference between glucose and starch?

Question

Does anyone know the difference between glucose and starch? Is it because of its form or catergory it comes from?? Thanks!!

Answer 1

Starch is made up of many glucose molecules bonded together, hydrolysis (addition of water chemically) of starch releases the glucose.

Answer 2

The SCD™ Knowledge Base

Cellulose - The Difference Between Cellulose and Starch

Jon writes: Informative link on the difference between starch and cellulose: http://www.psrc.usm.edu/macrog/starlose.htm

Starch and cellulose are two very similar polymers. In fact, they are both made from the same monomer, glucose, and have the same glucose-based repeat units.

There is only one difference. In starch, all the glucose repeat units are oriented in the same direction. But in cellulose, each succesive glucose unit is rotated 180 degrees around the axis of the polymer backbone chain, relative to the last repeat unit.

When bigshot scientists are talking bigshot scientist talk they say that the glucose units in starch are connected by alpha linkages, and that the glucose units in cellulose are connected by beta linkages

Answer 3

Glucose
Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is one of the most important carbohydrates in biology. The cell uses it as a source of energy and metabolic intermediate. Glucose is one of the main products of photosynthesis and starts cellular respiration in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Two isomers of the aldohexose sugars are known as glucose, only one of which (D-glucose) is biologically active. This form (D-glucose) is often referred to as dextrose (dextrose monohydrate), especially in the food industry. This article deals with the D-form of glucose. The mirror-image of the molecule, L-glucose, cannot be used by cells.

and

Starch (CAS# 9005-25-8) is a complex carbohydrate which is insoluble in water; it is used by plants as a way to store excess glucose. Starch (in particular cornstarch) is used in cooking for thickening sauces. In industry, it is used in the manufacturing of adhesives, paper, textiles and as a mould in the manufacture of sweets such as wine gums and jelly babies. It is a white powder, and is tasteless and odourless.

You could get more information from the 2 links below...

Answer 4

glucose is a monosacharide: one single sugar molecule C6 H12 O6.
starch is a polysaccharide. It's made of several thousands if glucose unit joined by alpha 1-4 glycosidic bond. (C6 H12 O6)n. It's storage form of storing several glucose molecules so when organism (plants) use it they can break off these glucose molecules from starch and metabolize it for energy.

Answer 5

Isn't starch broke down in our bodies into glucose to be used for energy? And stored as fat if it is not used.

Answer 6

Glucose (or dextrose) is the simplest form of sugar. Starch is simply a term for any complex sugars.

Answer 7

Category.

Glucose is sugar found in many processed foods.

Examples of starch are potatoes, chips, bread, bread crumbs, etc.

Answer 8

good question. here is the difference:

Starch is a complex carbohydrate which is insoluble in water; it is used by plants as a way to store excess glucose. Starch (in particular cornstarch) is used in cooking for thickening sauces. In industry, it is used in the manufacturing of adhesives, paper, textiles and as a mould in the manufacture of sweets such as wine gums and jelly babies. It is a white powder, and is tasteless and odorless.

Answer 9

Starch is how excess energy (food) is stored in plants, and glucose is how it is stored in humans.

Answer 10

Different spelling.