What type of compound is found in the cell wall of plants?

The compound that is found in the cell wall of plants is cellulose. Cellulose is a complex carbohydrate, specifically a polysaccharide, made up of long chains of glucose molecules linked together. It provides structural support to the plant cell wall, allowing plants to maintain their shape and resist external pressure. This rigidity is crucial for plants, as they do not have a skeletal system like animals. The arrangement of cellulose fibers in the cell wall also plays a significant role in water retention and protection against pathogens.

In contrast, starch is primarily an energy storage carbohydrate found in plants, while glycogen serves a similar purpose in animals and fungi. Chitin is a polysaccharide that makes up the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods, but it is not involved in plant cell structures. Hence, cellulose is uniquely suited to fulfilling the role it plays in plant cell walls.