Final answer:
One mole of ATP supplies about -7.3 kcal/mol (-30.5 kJ/mol) under standard conditions, though it can be approximately -14 kcal/mol (-57 kJ/mol) within living cells. This energy is utilized for cellular functions, such as moving sodium ions, where one mole of ATP can move approximately 3 sodium ions across a cellular membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
Energy Supplied by One Mole of ATP
The energy released by the hydrolysis of one mole of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) into ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and P₁ (inorganic phosphate) can vary depending on conditions. Under standard biological conditions, the energy released is about -7.3 kcal/mol (-30.5 kJ/mol). However, within the cellular environment of living cells, the release of energy can be almost double that amount, being about -14 kcal/mol (-57 kJ/mol).
When looking at cellular work, such as moving sodium ions across a cell membrane, one mole of ATP hydrolysis can provide the energy for specific functions. For instance, it takes 2.1 kcal/mol of energy to move one Na+ across the membrane. Therefore, from a single mole of ATP hydrolysis, which provides 7.3 kcal of energy, approximately 3 sodium ions could be moved across the membrane (7.3 kcal/mol divided by 2.1 kcal/mol per sodium ion).
This energetics of ATP is crucial for cellular functions, including muscle contraction, active transport of molecules, and various signaling pathways. It's noteworthy that a single cell uses about 10 million ATP molecules per second, highlighting the high energy demand and efficiency of cellular processes.