NEETZoologyChemical Coordination and Integration
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Chitin is a nitrogen-containing complex polysaccharide, hence its monomers are linked by peptide bonds. Reason (R): Chitin is a homopolymer of N-acetyl glucosamine found in the exoskeleton of arthropods. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given
Options
- AAssertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
- BBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- CBoth Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
- DAssertion (A) is true but Reason (R) is false.
Correct answer
A. Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.
Step-by-step solution
The Assertion is false. Although chitin is a nitrogen-containing complex polysaccharide, it is a carbohydrate and not a protein. Therefore, its monomers (N-acetyl glucosamine) are linked by glycosidic bonds, not peptide bonds. Peptide bonds are characteristic of proteins. The Reason is a true statement. According to NCERT, chitin is a structural homopolysaccharide consisting of N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG) monomers, and it forms the exoskeleton of arthropods. Answer: Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.