Question

Are nucleotides acidic or basic?

Answer 1

Acid:

1. Any hydrogen-containing substance that is capable of donating a proton (hydrogen ion) to another substance.
2. They have a pH of <7.
3. Example- H₂SO₄, HCl, CH₃COOH, etc.

Base:

1. A molecule or ion that is capable of accepting a hydrogen ion from an acid.
2. They have a pH of >7.
3. Example- NaOH, Ca(OH)_2, etc.

Nucleotides:

1. Organic molecules with a basic composition of a nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, and phosphate.
2. DNA and RNA are polynucleotides. They contain a chain of nucleotides monomers with different nitrogenous bases.
3. They are acidic in nature because of phosphate groups.
4. The phosphate group has hydrogen which exits by leaving behind a negative charge on it when needed hence it exhibits traits of being acidic.