Chemical energy and ATP

Question 1

What do cells need?

Answer 1

Cells need chemical energy carried by ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

Question 2

What is ATP?

Answer 2

ATP is a molecule that transfers energy from the breakdown of food molecules to cell processes.

Question 3

For what do cells use ATP?

Answer 3

Cells use ATP for functions such as buildings molecules and moving materials by active transport. ATP is released when a phosphate group is removed from the molecule.

Question 4

What happens when the phosphate is removed?

Answer 4

When the phosphate is removed, energy is released and ATP becomes ADP (adenosine diphosphate). ADP is a lower-energy molecule that can be converted into ATP by the addition of a phosphate group.

Question 5

What is one function of digestion?

Answer 5

One function of digestion is to break down food into smaller molecules that can be used to make ATP. The number of ATP molecules is related to the number of calories in food, but it also depends on the type of molecule that is broken down.

Question 6

REMEMBER!

Answer 6

All cells need chemical energy!

The chemical energy used for most cell processes is carried by ATP!

Organisms break down carbon-based molecules to produce ATP!

A few types of organisms do not need sunlight and photosynthesis as a source of energy!