AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -ATP is like a charged battery, while ADP is like a dead battery. ATP can be hydrolyzed to ADP and Pi by the addition of water, releasing energy. ADP can be “recharged” to form ATP by the addition of energy, combining with Pi in a process that releases a molecule of water.

Detailed explanation-2: -ADP and ATP are like batteries because they store energy in the chemical bonds they contain. 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 is often called the cell’s “energy currency.” Like money can buy any item in a store, this one molecule can power almost any process in a cell. Much like a standard battery can power multiple electronic devices, ATP can power many molecular processes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Much like a rechargeable battery with a fluctuating state of charge, ATP represents a fully charged battery, and ADP represents “low-power mode.” Every time a fully charged ATP molecule loses a phosphate bond, it becomes ADP; energy is released via the process of ATP becoming ADP.

Detailed explanation-5: -How? It functions as a rechargeable battery. When ATP is broken down, usually by the removal of its terminal phosphate group, energy is released. This energy is used to do work by the cell, usually by the binding of the released phosphate to another molecule, thus activating it.