A scientist observed a chemical that changes to bright red in the presence of organic compounds containing nitrogen and phosphorus.To test this chemical,a set of test tubes is prepared,with each tube containing a purified sample of one of the following organic compounds.The chemical is then added to each tube.The test tube containing ________ will always turn bright red.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nucleic acids contain both nitrogen and phosphorus, which are necessary for DNA and RNA synthesis. Therefore, the chemical will always turn bright red in the presence of nucleic acids. Proteins also contain nitrogen, but not all proteins contain phosphorus, so this choice is not as specific. Carbohydrates and phospholipids do not contain nitrogen or phosphorus, so they would not react with the chemical.

A Scientist Observed a Chemical That Changes to Bright Red