Question

1) Explain, with reference to non-covalent forces, why the gecko has feet that can grip/stick onto almost any surface.

2) Glycogen and cellulose are both homopolymers of glucose. Why is glycogen a gel, whereas cellulose is rigid?

Answer 1

1) There are millions of tiny hairs on the toes of gecko called as setae. These hair like tissues combined, gives a washborad type appearance and also each of these seta have thousands of thinner hair like structures. These structures have flat caps at the ends called spatulae and they use Van der waals force to allow the gecko feet to adhere to objects.The seta and spatulae together gives a large surface area to gecko in comparison with its size and they take this as advantage of attraction caused by Van der waals.

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