[Campbell Biology P.200] Based on Figure 8.9a and the accompanying text, what is the primary... | Practice Question

Based on Figure 8.9a and the accompanying text, what is the primary reason for the instability of the triphosphate tail of ATP, often likened to a 'compressed spring'?

  • A: The strong covalent bonds linking the phosphate groups, which store a large amount of energy.
  • B: The crowding together of three negatively charged phosphate groups, leading to mutual repulsion.
  • C: The presence of the ribose sugar and adenine base, which are inherently unstable.
  • D: The high solubility of ATP in water, causing it to readily dissociate.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'all three phosphate groups are negatively charged. These like charges are crowded together, and their mutual repulsion contributes to the instability of this region of the ATP molecule. The triphosphate tail of ATP is the chemical equivalent of a compressed spring.'