Open AccessWhat Goes in Must Come out: The Story of Uric Acid
Author(s) -
Catherine E. Housecroft
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2021.891
Subject(s) - uric acid , urea , stacking , ammonia , urine , chemistry , sodium , biochemistry , organic chemistry
Birds and reptiles convert waste ammonia into uric acid, while mammals excrete urea, with only small amounts of uric acid ending up in urine. This column explores the varying roles of uric acid and important calcium and sodium salts, and introduces pi-stacking interactions in solid-state structures.