01 What is ATP?
Adenosine Triphosphate is the molecule cells use to store and transfer energy. When the terminal phosphate is removed (hydrolysis to ADP), ~30 kJ/mol is released. Every cell process - muscle contraction, protein synthesis, nerve impulses - runs on ATP.
02 Why It Matters
Despite only ~250g of ATP in your body at any time, you recycle your body weight in ATP every day because each molecule is used thousands of times. It connects catabolism (breaking down food for energy) to anabolism (building molecules).
03 Structure and Bonding
Shape: Complex (adenine + ribose + 3 phosphates)
Bonds: High-energy phosphate anhydride bonds
Polarity: Highly polar - The bonding creates a complex charge distribution across the structure.
Your body makes roughly 40 kg of ATP per day during moderate activity - recycling the same molecules tens of thousands of times.