What is a nucleotide? What components does it consist of? What parts of the nucleotide make up the backbone of the nucleic acid chain?

group of organic compounds are phosphoric esters of nucleosides. The nucleotide consists of a residue of phosphoric acid, a monosaccharide carbohydrate (ribose in RNA or deoxyribose in DNA) and a nitrogenous base. Thus, the backbone of the nucleic acid molecules consists of pentoses, between which phosphodiester bridges are formed (in fact, the remains of pentoses and phosphoric acids alternate).