Final answer:
The phosphoanhydride bond in ATP is broken by hydrolysis, during which water is used to split the bond, resulting in the formation of ADP, an inorganic phosphate group (Pi), and the release of free energy crucial for cellular functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A phosphoanhydride bond in molecules like adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is indeed broken by hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that involves the breaking of a bond in a molecule using water. In the context of cellular reactions, ATP hydrolyzes into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and an inorganic phosphate group (Pi), releasing free energy. The breaking of these high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds, specifically between the beta and gamma phosphate groups, releases energy that is utilized by the cell for various processes. The released energy is a direct result of the products (ADP and Pi) having lower free energy in comparison to the reactants (ATP and water).
The hydrolysis of ATP is a critical reaction in the cell that provides the energy necessary for many biological functions. It can be represented by the following chemical equation: ATP + H2O → ADP + Pi + free energy. Notably, during hydrolysis, the water molecule is split into its component hydrogen and hydroxyl groups, which respectively bond with portions of the broken molecule.