AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -An ATP molecule, shown in the Figure below, is like a rechargeable battery: its energy can be used by the cell when it breaks apart into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and phosphate, and then the “worn-out battery” ADP can be recharged using new energy to attach a new phosphate and rebuild ATP.

Detailed explanation-2: -ADP has only two phosphate groups (and fewer bonds), so it’s like a par-tially charged battery. ATP has three phos-phate groups, so it is like a fully charged battery and has more bonds available for energy storage.

Detailed explanation-3: -ATP (Adenosine tri-phosphate) is an important molecule found in all living things. Think of it as the “energy currency” of the cell. If a cell needs to spend energy to accomplish a task, the ATP molecule splits off one of its three phosphates, becoming ADP (Adenosine di-phosphate) + phosphate.

Detailed explanation-4: -ATP is Recyclable The cell doesn’t have to make ATP from scratch every time it needs some energy. Like a rechargeable battery, ATP can also be recharged and reused. ADP, the “uncharged” version of the molecule, stands for adenosine diphosphate.

Detailed explanation-5: -ADP contains more potential energy than ATP. Following hydrolysis, ATP can give off one phosphate group and usable energy, whereas ADP cannot. The energy produced by ATP comes from the breaking of the bond between two phosphate groups.