Cellulose facts for kids

The chemical formula for cellulose

Cellulose is a super important substance found in plants. It forms the main part of their structure. Think of it like the building blocks that make plants strong. It is the most common large molecule, called a macromolecule, found on Earth.

Cellulose is also a type of fiber. It is a very complex carbohydrate made up of thousands of smaller units called glucose. A scientist named Anselme Payen discovered cellulose in 1838. He took it out of plants and figured out what it was made of.

What is Cellulose Like?

Cellulose has no taste or smell. It likes water, which means it is hydrophilic. But it does not dissolve in water or most other liquids. It is also chiral, which means its molecules have a special shape, like your left and right hands. It can also break down naturally over time, which is called biodegradable.

Cellulose is made from a type of glucose. It forms most of the cell wall in plant cells. This cell wall helps plants keep their shape and stand tall. Humans and many animals cannot digest cellulose. But some animals, like termites and ruminants (such as cows), have special bacteria that help them break it down.

Cellulose is a polysaccharide. This means it is made of many small sugar units linked together. These links are very strong. When beta glucose units join, they create straight chains. These chains are held together by strong hydrogen bonds. This is why cellulose is so tough!

These strong fibers are grouped into bundles. Each bundle has about 40 fibers and is called a microfibril. These microfibrils are found within a wet network of other plant sugars. The plant cell wall is built right where it is needed. Its parts are made inside the cell. Then, special enzymes help put them together near the cell membrane.

How We Use Cellulose

Cellulose is used for many things. Its main use is to make paper. It is also used to make fabrics like cotton, linen, and rayon for our clothes.

Here are some other uses:

• Explosives: It can be turned into nitrocellulose, which is used in explosives.
• Films: Cellulose acetate is used to make films.
• Insulation: Cellulose helps insulate things like transformers, cables, and other electrical equipment. This means it helps stop electricity from escaping.
• Medicines: Very fine cellulose, called Microcrystalline cellulose, is used as a harmless filler in drug tablets.
• Food: Some types of cellulose are used in processed foods. They act as emulsifiers (to mix things), thickeners (to make things thicker), and stabilizers (to keep things from separating).
• Other Products: Cellulose can also be made into cellophane. It is also used to make water-soluble adhesives (glues) and binders, like methyl cellulose.

Images for kids

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  How cellulose looks like cotton

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  Cellulose under a microscope

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  A triple strand of cellulose showing the hydrogen bonds (cyan lines) between glucose strands

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  Cotton fibers are almost pure cellulose, with more than 90% of this polysaccharide

See also

In Spanish: Celulosa para niños