BACK TO chitin

chitin vs. cellulose

[ kahy-tin ]
noun
  1. a nitrogen-containing polysaccharide, related chemically to cellulose, that forms a semitransparent horny substance and is a principal constituent of the exoskeleton, or outer covering, of insects, crustaceans, and arachnids.
[ sel-yuh-lohs ]
noun
  1. an inert carbohydrate, (C6H10O5)n, the chief constituent of the cell walls of plants and of wood, cotton, hemp, paper, etc.

Compare More Commonly Confused Words