Which statement best defines polysaccharide?

Which statement best defines polysaccharide?

• A. A carbohydrate that can be decomposed by hydrolysis into two or more molecules of monosaccharides; especially: any of the more complex carbohydrates (as cellulose, starch, or glycogen)
• B. A simple sugar
• C. A lipid molecule
• D. A protein

Answer: (A)

Polysaccharides are long, complex carbohydrate polymers made up of many sugar units linked together. A defining feature is that they can be broken down by hydrolysis into two or more monosaccharide molecules, which is what makes them large, built-up carbohydrates. Classic examples include starch, cellulose, and glycogen. This matches the idea of a carbohydrate that can be hydrolyzed into multiple monosaccharides and encompasses those complex carbohydrates. In contrast, a simple sugar is a single sugar unit (monosaccharide, sometimes considered a basic unit), lipids are a different type of biomolecule, and proteins are made of amino acids, not sugars.

Polysaccharides are long, complex carbohydrate polymers made up of many sugar units linked together. A defining feature is that they can be broken down by hydrolysis into two or more monosaccharide molecules, which is what makes them large, built-up carbohydrates. Classic examples include starch, cellulose, and glycogen.

This matches the idea of a carbohydrate that can be hydrolyzed into multiple monosaccharides and encompasses those complex carbohydrates. In contrast, a simple sugar is a single sugar unit (monosaccharide, sometimes considered a basic unit), lipids are a different type of biomolecule, and proteins are made of amino acids, not sugars.