How does the structure of ATP allow for the exchange of energy with the environment?

Question

I have read many articles, and I still can't seem to grasp the content...

Answer 1

During phosphorolation, the addition of a phosphate group to an existing compound, the original compound becomes more unstable, which also means it contains more energy. ATP has one adenosine molecule combined with three phosphate groups, hence Adenosine TRI-phosphate. A fundamental concept of chemistry lies in making and breaking bonds. When you make a bond, you consume energy. When you break a bond, you release that energy. When the body cell needs energy, the cell breaks a bond of one of the phosphate groups, yielding ADP + P + energy. This release of energy from breaking the bond of a phosphate group, times the thousands of ATP being broken down at once, is enough for the cell to power itself. ADP can further be reduced to AMP + P + energy, but the energy released is less than breaking down ATP.