Question

Which of the following options correctly represents the chemical formula of starch?
(a) $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 10 }{ O }_{ 5 } \right) { n }$
(b) $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ O }_{ 6 } \right) { n }$
(c) ${ C }_{ 12 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ O }_{ 11 }$
(d) $C{ H }_{ 3 }{ C }{ O }{ O }{ H }$

Answer 1

Hint: Chemically, starch is a polymer. It is a tasteless, white, solid carbohydrate, present in the form of minute granules in the tubers, seeds, and other parts of plants. It forms an important constituent of rice, maize, wheat, beans, potatoes, and many other food items.

Complete answer:
Chemically the basic formula of the starch molecule is $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 10 }{ O }_{ 5 } \right) { n }$. It is the most common carbohydrate in human diets and is contained in large amounts in staple foods like potatoes, maize (corn), rice, and cassava, as well as in the grains of wheat (Triticum amyleum), from which this cultivated white starch is produced.

Additional Information: -Consisting of various glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds Starch or amylum is a polymeric carbohydrate.
-Most green plants produce this polysaccharide as energy storage.
-It is a soft, white, tasteless, and odorless powder that is insoluble in cold water, alcohol, or other solvents.
- Linear polymer amylose is the simplest form of starch and amylopectin is the branched form. Starch generally contains ${ 20 }$% to ${ 25 }$% amylose and ${ 75 }$% to ${ 80 }$% amylopectin by weight, depending on the plant.
- $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ O }_{ 6 } \right) { n }$ refers to the family of sugars, such as hexoses, altrose, glucose, etc.
- ${ C }_{ 12 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ O }_{ 11 }$The molecular formula refers to Disaccharides, Allolactose, Cellobiose, etc.
- $C{ H }_{ 3 }{ C }{ O }{ O }{ H }$ is the chemical formula of acetic acid.

So, the correct answer is,” $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 10 }{ O }_{ 5 } \right) { n }$”.

Note: - In the chemical formula of starch $ \left( { C }_{ 6 }{ H }_{ 10 }{ O }_{ 5 } \right) { n }$, n is the number of glucose molecules in the polymer chain.
-A commercial preparation of starch is used for stiffening textile fabrics in laundries.
-Starch is also used for making adhesives, paper, and textiles.
-The glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in animals which is the highly branched version of amylopectin.