Uracil

C₄H₄N₂O₂

IUPAC: Pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione

CAS: 66-22-8

Overview

Uracil is a pyrimidine nucleobase found in RNA but not DNA. It pairs with adenine through two hydrogen bonds. In RNA, uracil replaces thymine (which has an extra methyl group). The presence of uracil in DNA would signal a cytosine deamination error.

Composition

Element Symbol Atoms Atomic Mass
Hydrogen H 4 1.0080
Carbon C 4 12.0110
Nitrogen N 2 14.0070
Oxygen O 2 15.9990

Elemental Composition

H
Hydrogen ×4
3.6%
C
Carbon ×4
42.9%
N
Nitrogen ×2
25.0%
O
Oxygen ×2
28.5%

Uses

  • • RNA component
  • • Anticancer drug precursor (5-fluorouracil)
  • • Biochemistry research
  • • Genetic code studies

Fun Facts

  • ✦ 5-Fluorouracil, a derivative of uracil, is one of the most widely used chemotherapy drugs

Safety

  • ⚠ Low toxicity

Structure

SMILES

C1=CNC(=O)NC1=O

Properties

Type
organic
State
solid
Molar Mass
112.09 g/mol
Density
1.3200 g/cm³
Melting Point
335.0 °C
Solubility
3.6 g/L at 25°C

Molecular Descriptors

Exact Mass
112.0273
XLogP
-1.1
TPSA
58.2 Ų
H-Bond Donors
2
H-Bond Acceptors
2
Rotatable Bonds
0
Heavy Atoms
8
Complexity
161.0

Also Known As

Uracil

Related Compounds

1,2-Dichloroethane

C₂H₄Cl₂

1,3-Butadiene

C₄H₆

1,4-Dioxane

C₄H₈O₂

1-Butanol

C₄H₁₀O

2-Propanol

C₃H₈O

Acetaldehyde

CH₃CHO

Acetamide

C₂H₅NO

Acetic Anhydride

C₄H₆O₃

Acetone

(CH₃)₂CO

Acetonitrile

C₂H₃N

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Uracil?
Uracil (C₄H₄N₂O₂) is a organic compound with the IUPAC name Pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione.
What is the molecular weight of Uracil?
Uracil has a molar mass of 112.087 g/mol.
What state is Uracil at room temperature?
Uracil is a solid at room temperature.
Is Uracil organic or inorganic?
Uracil is classified as an organic compound.
What elements make up Uracil?
Uracil (C₄H₄N₂O₂) is composed of Hydrogen (H), Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O).