how adenosine triphosphate is the ‘energy currency’ of cells? Is the molecule structured to trap and transfer energy or create it?

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how adenosine triphosphate is the ‘energy currency’ of cells? Is the molecule structured to trap and transfer energy or create it?

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Chemical bonds with more energy in them are weaker, less stable. This energy in bonds, referred to as ‘chemical energy’, is a kind of potential energy; think of a ball sitting at the top of a hill, ready to roll down. Stronger bonds have less potential energy in them, so they are like the ball sitting at the bottom of the hill. If you run a chemical reaction in which these weaker bonds are broken and stronger bonds are formed, then you are effectively rolling the ball down the hill, converting potential energy to kinetic energy in the form of heat. The heat energy released by such reactions is the energy contribution to the cell from the breakdown of molecules like ATP, which have relatively weak bonds with high potential energy, hence their role as energy storage.

You can also think about the formation of ATP as storing potential energy by pushing the ball back up to the top of the hill; breaking stronger bonds and forming weaker ones.

Disclaimer: This articulation of bond strength is a simplification which is complicated by hetero vs homolytic bond breaking and the varying electronegativities of atoms among which electrons are being exchanged.

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