Q.Distinguish between nitrogenous base and a base found in inorganic chemistry.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Step 1. Define an inorganic base. In general (Arrhenius) inorganic chemistry, a base is a compound that dissociates in water to release hydroxide ions (OH-) or otherwise accepts protons - common examples are sodium hydroxide (NaOH), potassium hydroxide (KOH) or ammonia. These are simple inorganic salts or small molecules whose 'basic' behaviour is purely about proton/hydroxide chemistry.
Step 2. Define a nitrogenous base. A nitrogenous base, by contrast, is a specific class of organic, nitrogen-rich heterocyclic (ring-shaped) compound - a purine (two fused rings: adenine, guanine) or a pyrimidine (one ring: cytosine, thymine, uracil) - that is a structural component of nucleotides.
Step 3. Explain why both are called 'base'. A nitrogenous base is called 'basic' historically because these nitrogen-containing rings behave as weak organic bases (the ring nitrogens can accept protons), not because they release hydroxide ions like an inorganic base does. …
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