Final answer:
B) charge repulsion. The negatively charged phosphates of ATP influence one another through charge repulsion. Phosphate groups in ATP are negatively charged and repel each other, making the molecules unstable. When ATP is hydrolyzed, one or two phosphate groups are removed, releasing energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The negatively charged phosphates of ATP influence one another through charge repulsion.
Phosphate groups in ATP are negatively charged and repel each other, making the molecules inherently unstable. When ATP is hydrolyzed, one or two phosphate groups are removed, releasing energy. This process is called dephosphorylation.