Question

Are adenine and guanine purines or pyrimidines?

Answer 1

Comparison chart

Purines versus Pyrimidines comparison chart

Purines Pyrimidines

Introduction (from Wikipedia) A purine is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound, consisting of a pyrimidine ring fused to an imidazole ring. Pyrimidine is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound similar to benzene and pyridine, containing two nitrogen atoms at positions 1 and 3 of the six-member ring. It is isomeric with two other forms of diazine.

Function Production of RNA and DNA, proteins and starches, the regulation of enzymes and cell signaling. Production of RNA and DNA, proteins and starches, the regulation of enzymes and cell signaling.

Nucleobases Adenine and guanine Cytosine, thymine, uracil

Structure A pyrimidine ring fused to a imidazole ring. Contains two carbon-nitrogen rings and four nitrogen atoms. Contains one carbon-nitrogen ring and two nitrogen atoms.

Melting point 214 °C, 487 K, 417 °F 20–22 °C

Type of Compound Heterocyclic aromatic organic compound Heterocyclic aromatic organic compound

Molecular formula C5H4N4 C4H4N2

Molar mass 120.11 g mol−1 80.088 g mol-1

MeSH Purine Pyrimidine

SMILES c1c2c(nc[nH]2)nc

PubChem 1044 9260

Synthesis in Lab Traube Purine Synthesis Biginelli Reaction

Detailed comparison continued below.

Answer 2

Adenine and Guanine are Purines

Cytosine, Thymine and Uracil are Pyrimidines