Final answer:
Cells store energy in the form of glucose or other polysaccharides rather than in unstable ATP, which they later break down to produce ATP when needed to power cell functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
ATP is too unstable to store, so cells often store this in the form of glucose, so when they need ATP to produce force, they break down the glucose to receive it. Cells cannot store significant amounts of free energy directly due to the potential for heat build-up which could damage cellular components. Instead, cells store energy in more stable compounds like glucose or other polysaccharides such as starch or glycogen. When cells need energy, they convert these stored compounds back into ATP through metabolic pathways. ATP then serves as the energy currency of the cell to perform functions such as muscle contraction, active transport, and biosynthesis.