A Level Biology Practice Exam

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Which component of ATP is responsible for its energy-carrying capacity?

Nitrogenous base
Pentose sugar
Phosphate groups
Ribosome

The correct answer is: Phosphate groups

The energy-carrying capacity of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is primarily attributed to its phosphate groups. ATP consists of three phosphate groups linked by high-energy bonds. When one of these phosphate bonds is broken through hydrolysis, energy is released, which can then be harnessed by the cell to perform work, such as muscle contraction, active transport, and biochemical reactions. The structure of ATP includes a nitrogenous base (adenine) and a pentose sugar (ribose), but these components do not play a direct role in its energy transfer. The ribosome is not a component of ATP; rather, it is a cellular structure involved in protein synthesis. Understanding this structure helps clarify that the reactive phosphate groups are central to ATP's role as an energy currency in biological systems.