What does ATP stand for?

What does ATP stand for?

• A. Adenosine Diphosphate
• B. Adenosine Triphosphate
• C. Adenosine Monophosphate
• D. Adenosine Triphosphate Salt

Answer: (B)

ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, the cell’s energy currency. It’s built from adenosine (adenine plus ribose) with three phosphate groups attached. The tri-phosphate portion signals three phosphates, and the bonds between the phosphates store energy that cells release when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate. That released energy powers many cellular tasks, from muscle contraction to active transport. The other possibilities describe the molecule with fewer phosphates (two for diphosphate, one for monophosphate) or a salt form, which aren’t the standard name of the molecule.

ATP stands for Adenosine Triphosphate, the cell’s energy currency. It’s built from adenosine (adenine plus ribose) with three phosphate groups attached. The tri-phosphate portion signals three phosphates, and the bonds between the phosphates store energy that cells release when ATP is hydrolyzed to ADP and inorganic phosphate. That released energy powers many cellular tasks, from muscle contraction to active transport. The other possibilities describe the molecule with fewer phosphates (two for diphosphate, one for monophosphate) or a salt form, which aren’t the standard name of the molecule.