Biology Forum Molecular Biology Nucleic ‘acids’

last updated by Adz795 13 years ago
3 voices
5 replies
  • Author
    Posts
    • #15371
      Adz795
      Participant

      I have 2 questions regarding nucleic acids.

      1) Why are nucleic acids called nucleic ‘acids’. As far as I know, they don’t have a -COOH group neither do they accept hydrogen.

      2) Are there any other types of nucleic acid molecules besides DNA and RNA and their subtypes?

    • #106321
      JackBean
      Participant

      because of their overall acidity caused by phosphates?
      (not every acid must have COOH)

    • #106324
      Adz795
      Participant

      You mean the hydrogen accepting power(ie the negative charge) of the phosphates alone confers the name ‘acids’ to the molecules?
      I had thought of it.. I wanted some confirmation.

    • #106330
      JackBean
      Participant

      these "phosphates" are phosphoric ACID.
      That’s like if you asked, whether the sulfate in H2SO4 solution confers the name ‘acid’.

    • #106340
      aptitude
      Participant
      quote Adz795:

      You mean the hydrogen accepting power(ie the negative charge) of the phosphates alone confers the name ‘acids’ to the molecules?
      I had thought of it.. I wanted some confirmation.

      According the Bronstead-Lowry acid/base theory, an acid donates a proton to solution and a base accepts it, not the other way around as you are saying. Phosphates are negatively charged because they have already dissociated to release H+ into solution.

    • #106344
      Adz795
      Participant

      I am so sorry, I confused with the acid/base theory.

      Thanks a lot for the explanation!

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

Members