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ATP

ATP is adenosine triphosphate.It is a nucleotide containing ribose sugar, a phosphate group on carbon atom-5 and the nitrogen containing base adenine.
The bonds between the phosphate groups are easily hydrolysed because the hydrolysis reactions require a low activation energy.The hydrolysis yields small amounts of energy (about 30.5 kJmol-1 for the first two bonds and 14 kJmol-1 for the third hydrolysis). ATP + H2O → ADP + Pi + energy ADP + H2O → AMP + Pi + energyAMP + H2O → adenosine + Pi + energyUsually only the first group is hydrolysed. This is coupled with metabolic reactions to provide energy for the reactions.

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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.1.6 ATP. Topic: Nucleic Acids.

Key terms in this lesson

hydrolysis
The breaking of a covalent bond within a molecule using a water molecule.
activation energy
The minimum amount of energy needed for reactant molecules to collide and react.
nucleotide
A molecule made of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing base.

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