Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

34. Nucleic Acids

Base Pairing

Organic Chemistry

34. Nucleic Acids

Base Pairing

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Multiple Choice

What type of interaction holds base pairs together in the DNA double helix?

Ionic bonds

Van der Waals forces

Covalent bonds

Hydrogen bonds

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Verified step by step guidance

Understand the structure of DNA: DNA is composed of two strands that form a double helix. Each strand is made up of nucleotides, which include a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Identify the nitrogenous bases: The bases in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). These bases pair specifically: adenine with thymine, and cytosine with guanine.

Recognize the type of interaction: The base pairs are held together by hydrogen bonds, which are a type of weak chemical bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom is attracted to an electronegative atom, such as nitrogen or oxygen.

Differentiate from other interactions: Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons and are stronger than hydrogen bonds. Covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons and are also stronger. Van der Waals forces are weak interactions that occur between molecules, but they are not the primary force holding DNA base pairs together.

Conclude with the correct interaction: The specific pairing of bases (A with T and C with G) in the DNA double helix is stabilized by hydrogen bonds, which provide the necessary specificity and stability for the DNA structure.