What term describes longer chains of monosaccharides that serve well as storage forms due to their insolubility?

The term that describes longer chains of monosaccharides, which serve well as storage forms due to their insolubility, is polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of monosaccharide units linked together. This structure allows them to be more stable and less soluble in water compared to shorter carbohydrate chains, making them ideal for energy storage.

For example, glycogen, found in animals, and starch, found in plants, are both forms of polysaccharides that function as energy reserves. Their insolubility prevents them from drawing water into cells and helps maintain osmotic balance. These storage forms can be broken down into individual glucose units when the body requires energy, demonstrating their role as efficient energy reserves.

In contrast, oligosaccharides consist of only a few monosaccharides linked together and do not provide the same level of storage capability. Monosaccharides, being single sugar units, are not capable of storage. Disaccharides, which are formed from two monosaccharide units, are also not suitable for storage due to their shorter chains. Therefore, polysaccharides are the correct answer for describing longer chains of monosaccharides that serve as effective storage forms.