Nucleosides: A nucleoside contains only two basic components of nucleic acids i.e. a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base. During their formation 1-position of the pyrimidine or 9-position of the purine moitey is linked to C1 of the sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) by a β- linkage.
Nucleotide: A nucleotide contains all the three basic components of nucleic acids, i.e. a phosphoric acid group, a pentose sugar and a nitrogenous base. These are formed by esterification of C5 – OH of the sugar of the nucleoside with phosphoric acid.
