Plants do not store carbohydrate as glucose but do so as starch because glucose

Options

A. Is unstable
B. Attracts herbivores
C. Will change nucleic acids
D. Alters osmotic balance.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Forms of Carbohydrates:**
- Carbohydrates can exist in different forms, primarily as monosaccharides (like glucose) and polysaccharides (like starch).
- Glucose is a monosaccharide, meaning it is a single sugar unit, while starch is a polysaccharide, which is a long chain of glucose units linked together.

2. **Properties of Glucose:**
- Glucose is soluble in water. This solubility means that if glucose were to be stored in plants, it would dissolve in the water present in plant cells.
- When glucose dissolves, it can affect the osmotic balance within the plant cells, potentially leading to an influx of water that could disrupt cellular functions.

3. **Properties of Starch:**
- Starch, being a polysaccharide, is made up of many glucose units linked together. This structure makes starch insoluble in water.
- The insolubility of starch means that it does not interfere with the osmotic balance of the plant. It can be stored without affecting the water concentration in the cells.

4. **Conclusion on Storage:**
- Because glucose is water-soluble and could disturb osmotic balance, plants prefer to store carbohydrates in the form of starch, which is insoluble and does not disrupt the osmotic conditions within the plant.

5. **Correct Answer:**
- The correct reason why plants do not store carbohydrates as glucose but as starch is that glucose alters osmotic balance due to its solubility in water.