Chapter 12.5, Problem 3QQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: To determine the number of phosphorus-oxygen bonds that are broken and the number of phosphorus-oxygen bonds formed, respectively, in the conversion of ATP to ADP via a hydrolysis reaction.

Concept introduction: High energy compounds are those compounds that release a large amount of energy upon hydrolysis. These compounds consist of highly strained bonds which are responsible for the release of a high amount of energy. The compounds containing a phosphate group are examples of high energy compound. ATP and ADP are examples of high energy compounds.

ATP and ADP contain the adenine base, the ribose sugar unit and phosphate groups in their structure. They only differ in the number of phosphate group present in them. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) consists of two phosphoryl groups $\left({\text{PO}}_3^{2-}\right)$ and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) consists of three phosphoryl groups$\left({\text{PO}}_3^{2-}\right)$.