Final answer:
ATP and ADP both consist of an adenine base, a ribose sugar, and phosphate groups; ATP has three phosphates, whereas ADP has two. These components store high energy, especially in the phosphate bonds, and when these bonds are hydrolyzed, energy is released for cellular functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP) are comprised of three common components:
- An adenine base, which is a nitrogenous compound that forms part of a nucleotide.
- A ribose sugar, which is a five-carbon sugar that serves as the backbone to which the other molecules are attached.
- Phosphate groups, where ATP contains three phosphate groups and ADP contains two. These groups are bound to the ribose and store potential energy within their high-energy bonds.
The process of adding or removing phosphate groups involves high amounts of energy. These phosphate groups are negatively charged, leading them to repel one another, which contributes to the instability and high energy potential of the ATP molecule. Hydrolysis of ATP, where a phosphate group is removed, releases energy that cells can use to perform various functions.