What term refers to long chains of glucose molecules?

The term that refers to long chains of glucose molecules is starches. Starches are polysaccharides, which are carbohydrates made up of many sugar molecules linked together. Specifically, they consist primarily of long chains of glucose units connected by glycosidic bonds. This structure allows starches to serve as a significant source of energy in many diets, particularly from plant sources like grains, legumes, and tubers.

In contrast, proteins are made up of amino acids, sugars typically refer to simple carbohydrates (like glucose and fructose) rather than long chains, and fibers, while also made from glucose, often have different structures and functions, including being more resistant to digestion. Thus, starches represent the category of carbohydrates characterized specifically by their long chains of glucose molecules.