What is the difference between Cellulose and Starch?

Cellulose is an organic substance that contains a central part of the plant cell; it is a polymer of glucose, and Starch is a polymeric carbohydrate that contains numerous glucose; it is also known as amylum. Cellulose exists as lignin, hemicellulose, and pure cellulose, it forms straight chains, which is connected by beta linkage and is difficult to digest.

Cellulose is made of one type of beta glucose; it is used by the plant for structural support. Cellulose can be found in cotton, wood, paper, cotton. While starch is made up of two types of alpha glucose, which is connected by alpha linkages, it is humanly consumable and easy to digest. It exists as amylose and amylopectin. It is used by plants for energy storage. Starch can be food items such as rice, corn, beer, and others.

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose, it is the most common organic compound, and it is the central part of plant cells. The only animals that can process cellulose are termites, cows, deer, or buffalo because they have certain enzymes that break down the cellulose. The commercial uses of cellulose include paper and the fiber used in the making of clothing like cotton and linen.

On the other hand, starch is also a polymer of glucose. Starch can be eaten by humans, as it is the primary source of carbohydrates in potatoes, wheat, corn, and rice. Starch is softer than cellulose and contains a smaller amount of crystalline. Even though raw starch is not soluble in cold water, it can be dissolved in temperate water. It can also be used as glue in stiffening clothes, weaving linen, thickening sauces, and in the treatment of paper.

Although cellulose and starch are both polymers of glucose, there are still some differences between the two. One of the major differences between cellulose and starch is that; the repeating units of cellulose, i.e., glucose units, are connected together by beta linkages, whereas the repeating units of starch are connected by alpha linkages. Cellulose can be digested only by animals because they are composed of certain enzymes that can break it. In contrast, human beings cannot digest cellulose.

On the other hand, starch can be digested by human beings because our body system can break it into its simplest unit, i.e., glucose. Another thing that can be used to differentiate the two is their solubility in water. Cellulose is not soluble in water, whereas starch is soluble in water, but it can only dissolve completely in warm water. Another difference in starch is weaker than cellulose, and this also explains why it does not dissolve in water.