Chapter: Carbon Compounds· Science & Technology Part 1
Three natural polymers are starch, cellulose and proteins.
| Natural polymer | Where it occurs | Monomer |
|---|---|---|
| Starch | Stored food in plants: grains (rice, wheat), potatoes | Glucose |
| Cellulose | Cell walls of plants: cotton, wood, paper | Glucose |
| Proteins | Muscles, hair, nails, skin, egg white, silk, wool | Amino acids |
Another example is natural rubber, obtained from the latex of the rubber tree, whose monomer is isoprene. Starch and cellulose are both polysaccharides made of glucose units; they differ in the way the glucose units are linked.