Final answer:
The bond that is broken between phosphates in ATP to release energy and form ADP is the bond between the second and third phosphates. This process is a hydrolysis reaction and is crucial for various cellular activities. The correct answer is second and third.
Step-by-step explanation:
When energy is released from ATP, the bond broken is between the second and third phosphates, forming a free-floating phosphate and ADP. This bond is known as a high-energy phosophoanhydride bond, and its hydrolysis into ADP is a reaction that releases a considerable amount of free energy because the reaction products (ADP and inorganic phosphate) have much lower free energy than the reactants (ATP and water). This process is essential for providing energy to power various cellular reactions and is an excellent example of a hydrolysis reaction where a water molecule is used to break the bond.