Final answer:
Energy is stored in ATP by adding a phosphate group to ADP, making a high-energy bond due to the repulsion between negatively charged phosphate groups. When the cell requires energy, ATP is hydrolyzed, releasing energy for cellular work. Energy can also be transferred to other molecules by adding a phosphate group, aiding in storage and metabolism.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Energy Is Stored in ATP
The process of energy storage using ATP (adenosine triphosphate) involves the addition of a phosphate group to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to form ATP. This is a way that cells store energy for short-term use. Phosphate groups are negatively charged, which creates a repulsion between them that makes the bonds in ATP inherently unstable and rich in energy. When one of these phosphate bonds is broken during hydrolysis, energy is released.
In cellular respiration, glucose is broken down to produce ATP. When energy is required by the cell, ATP is hydrolyzed into ADP and inorganic phosphate, a process that releases energy for cellular work. The released energy can power various cellular processes, like muscle contractions or active transport across cell membranes.
Cells can also transfer a phosphate group from ATP to other organic compounds, like glucose, altering them to become more reactive or storing them as more complex carbohydrates like glycogen. This phosphorylation process helps to manage energy storage and distribution at the cellular level.