Chemically, ATP is an adenine nucleotide bound to three phosphates. There is a lot of energy stored in the bond between the second and third phosphate groups that can be used to fuel chemical reactions. When a cell needs energy, it breaks this bond to form adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and a free phosphate molecule.
People also ask, what does ADP have to do with ATP?
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the main energy carrier molecule used living things. The difference between ATP and ADP, or adenosine diphosphate, is found in the number of phosphate groups, 3 for ATP and 2 for ADP.
Why does ATP become ADP?
The cell has a special kind of molecule for storing that energy, and it's called ATP. Think of it as the “energy currency” of the cell. If a cell needs to spend energy to accomplish a task, the ATP molecule splits off one of its three phosphates, becoming ADP (Adenosine di-phosphate) + phosphate.
What is the difference in function between ATP and ADP?
When the third phosphate is removed from ATP, you get ADP, which stands for Adenosine Di Phosphate. With just 2 phosphates left, the molecule has much less chemical energy, because the high energy bond between the last 2 phosphates has been broken.