Name ______Period _____
ATP Lab Activity
Background Information
Organisms need energy everyday to live. Cells use the energy provided by the chemical compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The key to ATP’s energy lies in the chemical bond between the 2nd and 3rd phosphate. When the bond is broken, energy is released, and the ATP becomes ADP.
Pre-Lab
1. What chemical compound do cells use to store and release energy?
2. What is the key to ATP’s energy?
3. What is the difference between ATP and ADP?
Materials: 5 shapes, colored (1-blue, 1-red, 3-yellow); 1” strip of paper; glue
Procedures:
Read ALL directions before you begin!
1. Label, color and cut out each shape:
a. Phosphate circles: yellow
b. Adenine pair: blue
c. Ribose: red
2. Fold 1” over on the right end of the strip of paper.
3. Glue the blue Adenine to the left end (without the fold).
4. Position and glue the red Ribose next to the Adenine.
5. Position and glue 2 of the Phosphates in the space remaining before the fold. Allow room to draw in the bonds.
6. Position and glue the final Phosphate to the top of the fold so that it appears in line with the other 2 phosphates.
7. Label under the flap … ENERGY RELEASED.
8. Notice that when you open the flap, the ATP becomes ADP.
9. Glue your ATP/ADP molecule to the back in the space indicated.
Post-Lab Analysis:
A B
1. Color and label the above molecules to match your model.
2. Name molecule A above.
3. Name molecule B above.
4. What is the X pointing to?
5. What is the Y pointing to?
6. If you break molecule A at the letter X, ATP becomes
7. If you break molecule A at the letter X, energy will be (stored or released).
8. Name the cell part that makes this molecule
9. A researcher discovers that a cell is using a particular molecule to store energy for time spans longer than several minutes. Which 2 molecules could possibly be the type of molecule that the researcher examined? Hint: Biochemistry Unit.
a. ATP or ADP
b. ATP or carbohydrate
c. Carbohydrate or lipid
d. Lipid or protein
10. Complex molecules are broken down during cellular respiration and converted into smaller molecules of energy called ATP. What are these complex molecules called? Hint: Reactants of CR and Macromolecules.
a. Proteins
b. Enzymes
c. Nucleic acids
d. Carbohydrates
Glue your completed model below:
Color the ADENINE blue.
Color the RIBOSE red.
Color the PHOSPHATES yellow.
Color the ADENINE blue.
Color the RIBOSE red.
Color the PHOSPHATES yellow.
Color the ADENINE blue.
Color the RIBOSE red.
Color the PHOSPHATES yellow.