Table of contents

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids

GOB Chemistry

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Primary Structure of Nucleic Acids

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1:35 minutes

Problem 32a

Textbook Question

For the following molecule:

a. Label the three nucleic acid building blocks it contains.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the three main components of a nucleic acid building block: (1) a phosphate group, (2) a sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose), and (3) a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, or uracil).

Examine the molecular structure in the image provided. Locate the phosphate group, which is typically represented as a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms.

Next, identify the sugar molecule. Look for a five-carbon ring structure (pentose sugar). Determine whether it is ribose (with an -OH group on the 2' carbon) or deoxyribose (with an -H on the 2' carbon).

Locate the nitrogenous base attached to the sugar. It will be a ring structure containing nitrogen atoms. Classify it as a purine (adenine or guanine, which have two rings) or a pyrimidine (cytosine, thymine, or uracil, which have one ring).

Label each of the three components (phosphate group, sugar, and nitrogenous base) on the molecule in the image. Ensure that all three nucleic acid building blocks are clearly identified and labeled.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Nucleotides

Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of three components: a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. They link together to form the backbone of DNA and RNA, with the sequence of nitrogenous bases encoding genetic information.

Nitrogenous Bases

Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules that contain nitrogen and are a key part of nucleotides. In DNA, the bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G), while in RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine. The specific pairing of these bases (A with T, and C with G) is crucial for the structure and function of nucleic acids.

Phosphodiester Bond

Phosphodiester bonds are the covalent linkages that connect the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the sugar of another, forming the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids. This bond is essential for the stability and integrity of the nucleic acid structure, allowing for the formation of long chains that carry genetic information.

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