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Which type of macromolecule contains phosphorus, and where in the molecule are phosphorus atoms located

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Answer:

Nucleic acids, which include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), are the macromolecules that contain phosphorus. Phosphorus is an important component of the nucleotides that make up nucleic acids.

In DNA, the phosphate group is located on the 5' carbon of the sugar molecule, which is connected to the nucleotide base via a phosphodiester bond. The phosphate groups of adjacent nucleotides form the backbone of the DNA molecule.

In RNA, the phosphate group is similarly located on the 5' carbon of the sugar molecule, but RNA has a ribose sugar instead of a deoxyribose sugar. RNA also typically contains single-stranded nucleotides, rather than the double-stranded structure of DNA.

Overall, phosphorus plays a critical role in the structure and function of nucleic acids, which are responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information.

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