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

Nitrogenous Bases

GOB Chemistry

26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis

Nitrogenous Bases

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2:32 minutes

Problem 55b

Textbook Question

Identify each of the following bases as a pyrimidine or a purine:
b. adenine

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the difference between purines and pyrimidines: Purines are larger, double-ring structures, while pyrimidines are smaller, single-ring structures. This distinction is key to identifying the type of base.

Recall the specific bases that belong to each category: Purines include adenine (A) and guanine (G), while pyrimidines include cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).

Examine the base in question, adenine, and determine its structure. Adenine is a double-ring structure, which is characteristic of purines.

Match adenine to the purine category based on its structural features and the list of purine bases.

Conclude that adenine is a purine because it fits the criteria of being a double-ring structure and is listed as one of the purine bases.

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Key Concepts

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

Pyrimidines and Purines

Pyrimidines and purines are the two categories of nitrogenous bases found in nucleic acids. Pyrimidines, which include cytosine, thymine, and uracil, have a single six-membered ring structure. In contrast, purines, such as adenine and guanine, consist of a fused double-ring structure. Understanding the structural differences between these bases is essential for classifying them correctly.

Adenine

Adenine is one of the two purine bases found in DNA and RNA. It plays a crucial role in cellular processes, including energy transfer as part of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and in the formation of nucleotides. Recognizing adenine as a purine is important for understanding its function in genetic coding and metabolism.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are polymers made up of nucleotide monomers, which include a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these bases encodes genetic information. Identifying the types of bases (pyrimidines vs. purines) is fundamental to understanding the structure and function of nucleic acids in biological systems.

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