Biology Forum › Molecular Biology › Nucleic ‘acids’
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- September 13, 2011 at 12:59 pm #15371
Adz795ParticipantI 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?
- September 13, 2011 at 1:16 pm #106321JackBeanParticipant
because of their overall acidity caused by phosphates?
(not every acid must have COOH) - September 13, 2011 at 4:20 pm #106324Adz795Participant
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. - September 14, 2011 at 6:59 am #106330JackBeanParticipant
these "phosphates" are phosphoric ACID.
That’s like if you asked, whether the sulfate in H2SO4 solution confers the name ‘acid’. - September 15, 2011 at 12:26 am #106340aptitudeParticipantquote 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.
- September 15, 2011 at 6:58 am #106344Adz795Participant
I am so sorry, I confused with the acid/base theory.
Thanks a lot for the explanation!
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