AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The phosphate tail of ATP is the actual power source which the cell taps. Available energy is contained in the bonds between the phosphates and is released when they are broken, which occurs through the addition of a water molecule (a process called hydrolysis).

Detailed explanation-2: -When one phosphate group is removed by breaking a phosphoanhydride bond in a process called hydrolysis, energy is released, and ATP is converted to adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Likewise, energy is also released when a phosphate is removed from ADP to form adenosine monophosphate (AMP).

Detailed explanation-3: -Since ATP consists of three phosphate molecules, when one phosphate is broken off of ATP, energy is released and can be harnessed by the cell.

Detailed explanation-4: -The two bonds between the phosphates are equal high-energy bonds (phosphoanhydride bonds) that, when broken, release sufficient energy to power a variety of cellular reactions and processes.

Detailed explanation-5: -The reason there is energy released in the process is because the products formed (ADP and hydrogenphosphate/phosphate) have stronger covalent bonds (plus intermolecular forces with the surrounding solution and dissolved ions) than the starting materials. This is the case for any exothermic process.