QUESTION IMAGE
Question
which macromolecule includes phosphorus in the molecular structure?
lipids
nucleic acids
proteins
carbohydrates
Brief Explanations
- Carbohydrates: Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. No phosphorus in their basic molecular structure.
- Proteins: Main elements are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur). Phosphorus is not a typical component of the core molecular structure of most proteins.
- Lipids: Mainly carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. While some complex lipids (like phospholipids) have phosphorus, the general category of lipids (as a macromolecule class) is not defined by having phosphorus in their molecular structure in the same fundamental way as nucleic acids.
- Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA): Their structure includes a phosphate group. The backbone of nucleic acids is made up of sugar - phosphate units. So, phosphorus is an essential part of the molecular structure of nucleic acids.
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nucleic acids