What are the three basic components of a nucleotide?

• A. A sulfate group, a ${\mathrm{pentose}}_{\mathrm{sugar}}$, and a ${\mathrm{nitrogenous}}_{\mathrm{base}}$
• B. A ${\mathrm{phosphate}}_{\mathrm{group}}$, a ${\mathrm{pentose}}_{\mathrm{sugar}}$, and an ${\mathrm{amino}}_{\mathrm{acid}}$
• C. A ${\mathrm{phosphate}}_{\mathrm{group}}$, a ${\mathrm{hexose}}_{\mathrm{sugar}}$, and a ${\mathrm{nitrogenous}}_{\mathrm{base}}$
• D. A ${\mathrm{phosphate}}_{\mathrm{group}}$, a ${\mathrm{pentose}}_{\mathrm{sugar}}$, and a ${\mathrm{nitrogenous}}_{\mathrm{base}}$

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that a nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA.
2. Identify the three components of a nucleotide: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
3. Recognize that the phosphate group is responsible for the acidic properties of nucleic acids.
4. Note that the pentose sugar in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA it is ribose, both of which are five-carbon sugars.
5. Understand that the nitrogenous base can be a purine (adenine or guanine) or a pyrimidine (cytosine, thymine in DNA, or uracil in RNA).