Multiple choice

Which of the following yield extremely hydrophilic gels on treatment with epichlorohydrin?

  1. Glycogen

  2. Inulin

  3. Dextrans

  4. Cellulose

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

They are also a class of storage homo-poly-saccharides of branched linear chains of D-glucose, but the subunits in these are linked by a, 1-6 instead of a, 1-4 glycosidic bonds. Synthetic dextran is used as blood plasma substitute. When treated with epichlorohydrin, synthetic dextrans yield extremely hydrophilic gels which can hold large amounts of water. These gels are commercially used in preparation of fruit jellies. Sephadex (trade name) and some other similar dextran-gels are used in column chromatography.

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