What is the difference between a purine and a pyrimidine?

Adenine and guanine are the two purines and cytosine, thymine and uracil are the three pyrimidines. The main difference between purines and pyrimidines is that purines contain a sixmembered nitrogencontaining ring fused to an imidazole ring whereas pyrimidines contain only a sixmembered nitrogencontaining ring. They both are types or categories of nitrogen containing bases present in nuclei acids of DNA and RNA.

Purines are 2 Ring or Carbon Ring, Nitrogen containing bases. That consist of these 2 rings next placed next to each other. These examples include - Adenine and Guanine.

Pyrimidines are 1 or single Ring Nitrogen containing structures. There are 3 nitrogenous bases that are categorized as pyrimidines. Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil.