Definition

A type of carbohydrate made up of sugar molecules that can be found in many plants, often alongside cellulose, and can break down into simpler sugars called pentoses when processed with water.

Example

Pentosan is important in the study of plant fibers and their properties.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of pentosan?

No, I haven't! What is it?

It's actually a type of polysaccharide found in many plants.

Interesting! I love learning about plant biology.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Pentosan** → It is formed from "pentose" (from Greek "pente", meaning five) and "-an" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a type of compound). The word "pentosan" refers to a type of polysaccharide that is made up of pentose sugars, which contain five carbon atoms.

Memory Tip

Think of 'five' ('pente') to remember that 'pentosan' is related to sugars made of five carbon atoms.

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