What accounts for the difference in the functions and properties of molecules like starches, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin?

The difference in function and properties of polysaccharides such as starch, glycogen, celluose and chitin is due to the differences in their recurring monosaccharide units, the types of bonds linking these units and the degree of branching in the molecules.

Explanation:

Polysaccharides are large molecules of carbohydrates which are made up of recurring monosaccharide units. Examples of polysaccharides are starch, cellulose, glycogen and chitin. Each of these polysacccharides show differences in structure, properties and function. The difference in function and properties of polysaccharides such as starch, glycogen, celluose and chitin is due to the differences in their recurring monosaccharide units, the types of bonds linking these units and the degree of branching in the molecules.

Starch is the storage carbohydrate in plants and is composed of two types of glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is composed of unbranched chains of D-glucose units linked to each other by (α1→4) glycosidic bonds. Amylopectin is a branched glucose polymer linked to each other by (α1→4) glycosidic bonds and (α1→6)  at the branching points.

Glycogen is the storage polysaccharide in animals which is highly branched and compact. It is composed of (α1→4) linked glucose subunits with (α1→6)  at the branching points.

Cellulose is a fibrous, tough and water-insoluble substance found in plant cellwalls. It is is a linear unbranched polysaccharide made up of D-glucose units linked together by (β1→4) glycosidic bonds.

Chitin is is the main component of the exoskeletons of athropods. It is a linear molecule composed of N-acetylglucosamine units linked together by (β1→4) glycosidic bonds.

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digestion

it excretes wastes