4.

1 Chemical Energy and ATP

KEY CONCEPT
All cells need chemical energy.
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
• The chemical energy used for most cell processes is
carried by ATP.
• Molecules in food store chemical energy in their bonds.

Starch molecule

Glucose molecule
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP

• ATP transfers energy from the breakdown of food

molecules to cell functions.
– Energy is released when a phosphate group is removed.
– ADP is changed into ATP when a phosphate group is
added.

phosphate removed
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
• Organisms break down carbon-based molecules to
produce ATP.
• Carbohydrates are the molecules most commonly broken
down to make ATP.
– not stored in large amounts adenosine triphosphate

– up to 36 ATP from one

glucose molecule
tri=3

adenosine diphosphate

di=2
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP

So...let us test for understanding and stretch our brains.

This is a research article that makes for some good reading.

4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP
4.1 Chemical Energy and ATP

So in essence...

When we say in Biology that the energy is stored in the

bonds, that is not exactly correct. Removal of that 3rd
phosphate group is an exergonic reaction because we are
taking an unstable molecule (which is high in energy) and
breaking that weak bond holding it together (the weak bond
being the 2nd and 3rd phosphate group).

The key point is that the release of energy from ATP to ADP
will be used to drive separate reactions that requires this
energy to start their chemical reaction. This is known as
reaction coupling because one reactions needs another to
happen first so it can use that energy to start their reaction.