Which of the following terms best summarizes ATP hydrolysis?
a. Exergonic b. Endergonic c. Oxidation d. Anabolic
Answer: a. Exergonic
ATP hydrolysis defines a state of the chemical decomposition of the high-energy phosphate bonds in adenosine triphosphate molecules (ATP) resulting in the release of the energy which is then dissipated with subsequent playing of a driving role for numerous cellular processes. The system also experiences energy imbalance, and the amount of energy released to the surroundings is higher than the amount of this energy taken from it.
During the hydrolysis of ATP, one phosphate group come off and the initial ATP therefore become adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The release of energy is significant during this ATP degradation. This energy is taken up by the cells for different energy consuming processes within the cellular like basophilic transport, biosynthesis, and the muscle contraction.
With the term being called an exergonic one, a process can be outlined spontaneously and releases energy which ATP hydrolysis, the most apt term, could be used to describe. The rest of the options “endergonic” (absorbing energy), “oxidation” (loss of electrons) and the “anabolic” process (transformation of non-living matter in life) does not give the picture of energy-releasing history of ATP hydrolysis.