Many youngsters often do not know what is the difference between starch and glycogen. We know that our body needs carbohydrates to generate the energy to do things. There are several types of polymeric carbohydrates found in living cells such as cellulose, starch, and glycogen. In my today’s article, we will find out what is the major structural difference between starch and glycogen in detail. I have even included the similarities found in these terms. Make sure you also check out the comparison between starch, glycogen, and cellulose too. Are you curious to find out what is the difference between starch and glycogen? Then keep on reading…
What Is The Difference Between Starch And Glycogen?
The difference between starch and glycogen is as follows.
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Definition:
Glycogen is the polymer of glucose which is the energy storage for fungi and animals. It is made up of from single molecule.
Whereas starch is also the polymer of glucose but it stores energy only for plants. And is made up of two molecules named amylose and amylopectin.
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Occurrence:
You can find glycogen stored in liver and muscle cells. It can also be abundantly found in the liver, brain, skeletal muscle, etc.
While starch can be majorly found in cereals, vegetables, roots, tubers, amyloplasts of the plant cells, and other grains.
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Components:
The glucose components of glycogen are produced when the insulin levels are high. The glucose components of starch can only be produced during photosynthesis.
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Monomer Chains:
In Glycogen, you will find shorter, branched monomer chains. On the other hand, starch has linear, coiled, branched monomer chains.
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Molecular Formula:
For Glycogen: (C24H42O21). And for starch: (C6H10O5)n +H2O
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Molar Mass:
For Glycogen: Variable is not constant. And molar mass for Starch is 666.577 g/mol.
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Iodine Test:
Glycogen gives a red color with iodine. Whereas starch gives a blue color with iodine.
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Use
Glycogen cannot be utilized for commercial purposes. However, people widely use starch in the paper and textile manufacturing industries.
Starch Vs Glycogen Vs Cellulose
Here, I have presented a small comparison chart of starch vs cellulose vs glycogen.
| Characteristics | Starch | Cellulose | Glycogen |
| Definition | It’s the main carbohydrate storage source in plants. | It’s the main structural component found in the plant’s cell wall. | It’s the main carbohydrate storage source in fungi and animals. |
| Occurrence | Occurs in grains | Occurs in fibers | Occurs in small granules |
| Found In | Plants | Plants | Animal and fungi |
| Monomer | Alpha glucose | Beta glucose | Alpha glucose |
| Bonds Between Monomers | 1,4 glycosidic bonds (in amylose) and 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds (in amylopectin) occur between monomers | 1,4 glycosidic bonds occur between monomers | 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds occur between monomers |
| Chain’s Nature | Amylose is an unbranched, coiled chain; whereas amylopectin is long coiled, branched chains | Straight, long, an unbranched chain that forms H-bonds with adjacent chains | Short branched chains among which some chains are coiled |
| Molecular Formula | (C6H10O5)n+H2O | (C6H10O5)n | C24H42O21 |
| Molar Mass | Variable molar mass | 162.1406 g/mol | 666.5777 g/mol |
| Main Function | Serves as a carbohydrate energy store | Helps in building cell walls | Serves as a carbohydrate energy store |
| Iodine Test | Turns blue | Turns purple | Turns red |
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Similarities Between Glycogen And Starch
In the above section, I have discussed what is the difference between glycogen and starch in detail. There are a few similarities that are often forgotten. Below, I have gathered some similarities between glycogen and starch that you must know.
- Both of them are made up of the same monomer i.e., monosaccharide alpha glucose.
- They are used as energy storage.
- Amylopectin found in starch and glycogen has 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds.
- Both starch and glycogen are examples of glucose.
- Starch, as well as glycogen, are compact molecules.
- Both of them are often insoluble but can be broken down into glucose molecules for energy.
FAQ
What Is The Difference Between Starch And Glucose?
The difference between starch and glucose is as follows.
- Starch is a polysaccharide whereas glucose is a monosaccharide.
- Starch is a complex form of glucose. On the other hand, glucose is one of the simplest forms of carbohydrate.
- Starch cannot get easily absorbed whereas glucose gets easily absorbed by the digestive tract of any organism.
- The color of taste of glucose is, while starch is tasteless.
- Glucose is soluble and starch is insoluble in water.
What Is A Difference Between Starch And Glycogen Edgenuity?
The difference between starch and glycogen Edgenuity is as follows.
| Glycogen | Starch |
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What Is The Difference Between Cellulose And Glycogen?
The difference between cellulose and glycogen is as follows.
| Characteristics | Cellulose | Glycogen |
| Definition | It’s the main structural component found in the plant’s cell wall. | It’s the main carbohydrate storage source in fungi and animals. |
| Occurrence | Occurs in fibers | Occurs in small granules |
| Found In | Plants | Animal and fungi |
| Monomer | Beta glucose | Alpha glucose |
| Bonds Between Monomers | 1,4 glycosidic bonds occur between monomers | 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds occur between monomers |
| Chain’s Nature | Straight, long, an unbranched chain that forms H-bonds with adjacent chains | Short branched chains among which some chains are coiled |
| Molecular Formula | (C6H10O5)n | C24H42O21 |
| Molar Mass | 162.1406 g/mol | 666.5777 g/mol |
| Main Function | Helps in building cell walls | Serves as a carbohydrate energy store |
| Iodine Test | Turns purple | Turns red |
What Is The Chemical Difference Between Starch And Cellulose?
The chemical difference between starch and cellulose is: starch is made up of glucose, while cellulose is made up of beta glucose.
What Is The Difference Between Starch And Glucose In Biology?
The key difference between glucose and starch is that glucose is the simplest form of carbohydrate that can easily be absorbed by the digestive system, while starch is a complex form of carbohydrate that cannot be easily absorbed by the digestive system.
What Is The Difference Between Starch And Glucose?
Glucose is a single sugar molecule that your body can absorb directly in the intestine. Sucrose and starches are carbohydrates formed by two or more sugars bonded together. The sugars in sucrose and starch must be broken down into glucose molecules in the gastrointestinal tract before your intestines can absorb them.
What Is The Function Of Starch And Glycogen?
Starch, which is composed of two glucose polymers, amylopectin and amylose, and glycogen serve as important reserve polysaccharides for the storage of carbon and energy in many species among Eukaryota, Bacteria, and Archaea.
What Is A Difference Between Starch And Glycogen Quizlet?
Glycogen is stored in animals in the liver and in muscle cells, whereas starch is stored in the roots, seeds, and leaves of plants. Starch has two different forms, one unbranched (amylose) and one branched (amylopectin), whereas glycogen is a single type of a highly branched molecule.
How Are Glycogen And Starch Formed?
Glycogen and starch are formed by the condensation of α-glucose. Cellulose is formed by the condensation of β-glucose.
Conclusion
With the help of my above-written article, you got to know what is the difference between starch and glycogen class 10 in detail. One of the major differences between these two terms is their occurrence. Glycogen is found in adipose tissue, found in animals and fungi. While starch is stored in amyloplasts cells that are found in plants. Also, the structure of starch and glycogen is made up of single and double molecules respectively. But both of them are made up of the same monomer i.e., monosaccharide alpha glucose. Once you understand what is the difference between starch and glycogen, you won’t face any difficulty in remembering these terms!
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