The sugars found in nucleic acids contain
A) 3 carbon atoms.
B) 5 carbon atoms.
C) 7 carbon atoms.
D) 9 carbon atoms.
E) either 5 or 7 carbon atoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sugars found in nucleic acids are called deoxyribose and ribose. Deoxyribose has 5 carbon atoms, while ribose has 5 carbon atoms with an additional oxygen atom, making it a 5-carbon sugar with the chemical formula C5H10O5. Therefore, the best choice is B.

The Sugars Found in Nucleic Acids Contain