What is the important compound in the exoskeleton of insects?

Answer 1

We find chitin in the exoskeleton of arthropods. This includs insects, arachnids (like Spiders), and crustaceans (like crabs and lobsters). The chemical is actually a polymer, and it has (C8H13O5N)n for a chemical formula. A link can be found below.

Answer 2

Same as for other insects. It is pretty complex, with waxes, fats, proteins etc (it is mainly a living tissue with lots of functions after all) but the main two substances that give it its strength are the tough, supple chitin, and the hard sclerotin.

The two act as a sort of reinforced concrete, with the chitin being like the reinforcing steel bars, and the sclerotin the cement.

Where there are supple joints in the exoskeleton, as between the plates of the abdomen and the joints of the legs, chitin is the main material. In the thick, hard plates, the jaws, and the head capsule, there is mainly the hard sclerotin.

The chitin is a chemical much like the cellulose of plants, which you can see almost pure in cotton.

The sclerotin is a protein in which the peptide chains are chemically cross-linked to make a rigid structure. The cross-linking is like the tanning of leather, and entomologists speak of it as tanning. While the exoskeleton is still soft after the insect has changed its skin, the tanning has only just started. The insect then puffs itself out into the right shape and keeps still while the tanning takes place and hardens the exoskeleton into that shape.

Incidentally, much the same sort of thing applies to most other Arthropoda such as spiders and scorpions, but crabs, king crabs and their relatives also put a lot of calcium carbonate (limestone) into their hard shells.

Answer 3

well i really don't know so you tell me!!! In the case of insects chiton In the case of snails calcium carbonate In the case of Iron Man High Grade steel

Answer 4

This compound is chitin.

Answer 5

Chitin