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Each nucleotide consists of three components: a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous base attaches to the sugar molecule at carbon-1, while the phosphate group bonds at carbon-5. These three components link together to form the basic building block of nucleic acids.

DNA contains deoxyribose sugar with only a hydrogen atom at carbon-2, while RNA contains ribose sugar with a hydroxyl group at that position. Both share adenine, cytosine, and guanine bases, but DNA contains thymine whereas RNA contains uracil instead. These structural differences affect their stability and function in the cell.

Purines are nitrogenous bases with two carbon-nitrogen rings, including adenine and guanine. Pyrimidines have a single carbon-nitrogen ring and include cytosine, thymine, and uracil. Each base type has different functional groups attached to its carbon-nitrogen ring structure, determining its chemical properties and pairing behavior.

Guanine and cytosine form complementary base pairs linked by three hydrogen bonds, making them more stable than other pairings. Adenine pairs with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA, both connected by two hydrogen bonds. The number of hydrogen bonds affects the strength and stability of the double helix structure.

DNA serves as the genetic material carrying the cell's entire genetic blueprint and controlling all cellular activities by turning genes on or off. RNA acts as an intermediary, with messenger RNA communicating genetic instructions from the nucleus to the rest of the cell for protein synthesis. Other RNA types like ribosomal and transfer RNA directly participate in protein synthesis and regulation.

In eukaryotic cells, DNA resides in the nucleus and organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria, where it forms complexes with histone proteins to create chromatin and chromosomes. In prokaryotes, DNA is not enclosed in a membranous envelope but exists freely in the cytoplasm. This difference in organization reflects the structural complexity of eukaryotic versus prokaryotic cells.

Nitrogenous bases are organic molecules containing an amino group with the potential to bind an extra hydrogen ion. This binding capacity decreases hydrogen ion concentration in their environment, causing the pH to shift toward the basic range. This chemical property is fundamental to their function in nucleotide structure and base pairing interactions.