Question

Q3). Much of the suitability of ATP as an energy intermediary is related to the instability of the bonds between the phosphate groups. These bonds are unstable because...

A) the valence electrons in the phosphorus atom have less energy on average than those of other atoms.

B) the phosphate groups are polar and are attracted to the water in the interior of a cell.

C) the negatively charged phosphate groups vigorously repel one another.

D) they are hydrogen bonds, which are only about 10% as strong as covalent bonds.

Answer 1

The instability of the bonds between the phosphate groups in ATP is due to the strong repulsion between the negatively charged phosphate groups, making ATP an efficient energy intermediary for the cell.

Step-by-step explanation:

Much of the suitability of ATP as an energy intermediary is related to the instability of the bonds between the phosphate groups. This instability is critical because it allows for the efficient release of energy during ATP hydrolysis. The correct answer to why these bonds are unstable is C) the negatively charged phosphate groups vigorously repel one another. The phosphate groups in ATP are negatively charged, which leads to a strong repulsion between them when they are arranged in a series, as found in molecules of ADP and ATP. This repulsion makes the molecule inherently unstable and ready to release energy when one or two phosphate groups are removed - a process called dephosphorylation.

Hydrolysis of these high-energy phosphoanhydride bonds releases a significant amount of energy. For example, when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate group, the released free energy is used to power various cellular processes. Therefore, the unstable bonds in ATP are essential for its role as the primary energy-supplying molecule within the cell.