Question

What chemical change occurs to ATP when it reacts with water and releases energy?

Short answer

When ATP molecule reacts with water, it loses phosphate and becomes ADP. One phosphate molecule is released by hydrolysis, and an inorganic phosphate group remains.

Step-by-step solution

Biochemical reactions

Biochemical reactions are reactions that take place in the cells of living organisms. These reactions are essential for the cellular and overall activity of the body. Chemical changes occur by the interactions between atoms of the biochemicals.

Metabolic pathways either use up the existing ATP molecules or synthesize new ATP molecules from the existing ADP or AMP molecules.

ATP is the source of energy

Adenosine triphosphate is abbreviated as ATP. It consists of three phosphate groups attached to a nucleotide base and a sugar ribose. It is the major source of energy in living organisms. It is a precursor for RNA and DNA, where it is used as a coenzyme.

It is named adenosine triphosphate and is regarded as the energy currency of cells.It is the primary energy source for the metabolic reactions in the cells. It is synthesized in the glycolysis and Kreb’s cycle, and is utilized in other chemical reactions and metabolic pathways that require energy.

Figure: Structure of ATP

Reaction of ATP

ATP is used in catabolic as well as anabolic processes. When the cells require energy, a chemical reaction between ATP and water takes place.Water hydrolyzes the bond between the last phosphate group in ATP and forms ADP by releasing the inorganic phosphate and energy.The reaction is given below: