Chitin is chemically

Options

A. N-acetyl glucosamine
B. N-acetyl muramic acid
C. N-acetyl gluconic acid
D. `alpha`-derivative of cellulose

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Chitin**: Chitin is a type of carbohydrate that is commonly found in nature. It is important to recognize that chitin is not just any carbohydrate; it has a specific structure and function.

2. **Chemical Composition**: Chitin is a long-chain polymer made up of repeating units. The repeating unit in chitin is derived from glucose, specifically an amino sugar.

3. **Identifying the Correct Option**: The correct chemical name for the repeating unit in chitin is N-acetylglucosamine. This is crucial as it differentiates chitin from other compounds.

4. **Comparison with Other Options**:
- **Option A**: N-acetylglucosamine - This is the correct answer as it is the building block of chitin.
- **Option B**: N-acetylmuramic acid - This is found in bacterial cell walls, not in chitin.
- **Option C**: N-acetylgluconic acid - This is not related to chitin.
- **Option D**: Alpha derivatives of cellulose - This is incorrect as cellulose and chitin are different polysaccharides.

5. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis, we conclude that chitin is chemically N-acetylglucosamine. Therefore, the correct answer is **Option A**.

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