About This Lesson
Paper towels are made up of cellulose fibers, which also make up cotton, wood, and most other plants. These cellulose fibers are actually giant molecules that consist of many small molecules linked together. The small molecules that combine to make up cellulose are sugar molecules; that’s the key to the absorbency of paper towels. Think how easily sugar dissolves in water. When you get a paper towel wet, the water molecules rush in and cling to the cellulose fibers. That’s why paper towels are great at picking up spills.
