Question

Do you think that the EA for ATP hydrolysis is relatively low or high? Explain your reasoning.

a) Low; ATP hydrolysis releases energy readily
b) Low; ATP hydrolysis requires substantial activation energy
c) High; ATP hydrolysis releases energy readily
d) High; ATP hydrolysis requires substantial activation energy

Answer 1

The EA for ATP hydrolysis is relatively low because ATP hydrolysis releases energy readily. The AG for the hydrolysis of ATP is around -14 kcal/mol in a living cell, indicating the release of a substantial amount of energy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The EA for ATP hydrolysis is relatively low because ATP hydrolysis releases energy readily. ATP is a highly unstable molecule, and when it is hydrolyzed, it spontaneously dissociates into ADP and phosphate, releasing a large amount of free energy that can be harnessed by cells to perform work. The AG (Gibbs free energy) for the hydrolysis of ATP is around -14 kcal/mol in a living cell, which is almost double the value under standard conditions, indicating the release of a substantial amount of energy.