Which statement best explains how a complex carbohydrate is different from a simple carbohydrate?

Question

Responses

The branching structure of simple carbohydrates contains bonds that are harder to break than the bonds of complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates have branching structures that make the molecule stronger.

The branching structure of a complex carbohydrate provides many more points where enzyme digestion can take place and release glucose molecules than the structure of simple carbohydrates.

The branching structures of complex carbohydrates have more chemical bonds than the unbranched structure of a simple carbohydrate.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains how a complex carbohydrate is different from a simple carbohydrate is:

"The branching structure of a complex carbohydrate provides many more points where enzyme digestion can take place and release glucose molecules than the structure of simple carbohydrates."

This captures the key difference in structure and function between complex and simple carbohydrates, emphasizing the more intricate and branched nature of complex carbohydrates which allows for more extensive digestion and release of glucose.

Answer 2

Wouldn't the last option also be correct?

Answer 3

Yes, you are correct that the last option also has merit. The option:

"The branching structures of complex carbohydrates have more chemical bonds than the unbranched structure of a simple carbohydrate."

is also accurate in that complex carbohydrates often have more bonds due to their larger and more intricate structures compared to simple carbohydrates. However, this statement is less focused on the functional aspect of digestion and glucose release, which is central to understanding the primary difference in how these carbohydrates are metabolized.

While both statements are technically correct, the first one explicitly addresses the functional implications of that structural complexity, making it the more relevant choice for explaining the primary difference in their effects on digestion and energy release.