ATP Lab

Name: _______________________ Period:________
Date:________
ATP Lab
Energy within a cell exists in the form of chemical energy. A source of this chemical energy is a
compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP when changed to a compound called adenosine
diphosphate (ADP) releases energy for biological work in a cell. ADP can be changed to ATP, but this
reaction requires an input of energy. An ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecule is made up of one ribose
molecule, one adenine molecule, and three phosphate groups joined. These phosphate groups are charged
and the highest amount of energy is stored when the third phosphate group is added.
Energy is stored in the bonds of glucose during photosynthesis. During cellular respiration, energy is
made available (released) from the breakdown of glucose and is used to change ADP to ATP.
1. What does the prefix tri – in triphosphate mean?
2. Adenosine is a word made up of the combination of two different words. Part of the word comes
from ribose (the letters “os”). Where do the letters “aden” and “ine” come from?
3. What is needed to form the connections or bonds between the phosphate molecules___________
4. What is therefore needed to form bonds in general?
Draw an ATP molecule
5. You have now built an ATP molecule. List the five “building blocks” that are needed to form one ATP
molecule:
1
1
3
Now, remove one phosphate group from the end of your ATP model.
Draw an ADP molecule
6. How many phosphate groups are still attached to the original molecule?
7. ADP stands for adenosine diphosphate. What does the prefix di in diphosphate mean?

8. List the four “building blocks” that are needed to form one ADP molecule:
1
1
2
9. When the phosphate group was removed from ATP to make ADP, what else was released?
10. Therefore, what happens when bonds break?
11. Look at the following equation:
ATP ADP + P + E
a. What do you believe the P stands for?
b. What do you believe the E stands for?
12. What do the cells do with the energy that is released during the formation of ADP? (hint: look at the
beginning of the lab)
13. After the energy in a molecule of ATP is used, the cell is left with a molecule of ADP and a phosphate
group (P). What will happen to these molecules?
14. What is required to rejoin the ADP and the P molecules?
15. ATP and ADP function much like batteries that store energy, until the cell needs it. If ADP can be
compared to an uncharged battery, to what would ATP be compared?
ADP : uncharged battery, ATP :
16. The term that means the adding of a phosphate group to a molecule is?
17. During what process is energy stored in the bonds of glucose?
18. During what process is the glucose broken down to release its stored energy?
19. What type of organism can make their own food? (autotroph or
heterotroph?)
20. What type of organism cannot make their own food and must obtain energy from the food they eat?
(autotroph or heterotroph?)
Use each of the terms below just once to complete the passage:
energy phosphate adenine charged
ATP chemical bonds work ribose
To do biological
, cells require energy. A quick source of energy that cells use
is the molecule . The in this molecule is store in its
. ATP is composed of a(n) molecule bonded to a(n)
sugar. Three molecules called groups are
attached to the sugar.