Sugars and phosphates are very important parts of nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA.

1. Sugar Molecules:

   • In DNA, the sugar is called deoxyribose. It has five carbon atoms.
   • In RNA, the sugar is called ribose. It also has five carbon atoms but has an extra group with oxygen at one part.
   • Because of this extra oxygen, RNA is more reactive and less stable than DNA.

2. Phosphate Groups:

   • Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids. Each nucleotide has a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
   • Each nucleotide has one phosphate group that connects to one end of the sugar.
   • The connections between the phosphates and sugars make a sugar-phosphate backbone. This backbone gives a negative charge to DNA and RNA.

3. Structural Importance:

   • The sugar-phosphate backbone is like the frame of nucleic acids. It helps attach the nitrogen bases.
   • This structure is really important for the double-helix shape of DNA. It stabilizes the molecule and ensures that adenine pairs with thymine (A-T) and cytosine pairs with guanine (C-G).

In short, sugars and phosphates are essential for the structure and function of nucleic acids. They help to shape these molecules and support their activities in living organisms.