Chemical Energy

Organisms get energy by consuming food. From the food that is consumed, organisms obtain macromolecules that are broken down into a chemical energy called ATP

This is how the process works: Food is digested and broken down into smaller molecules that can be turned into ATP. A fat molecule can produce about 146 molecules of ATP. Both carbohydrates and proteins produce about 36 molecules of ATP. Plants produce their own ATP. They do this in a process called cellular respiration.

What is ATP? Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the chemical energy currency used by all organisms.

When is the energy from ATP released? Energy is released from ATP when the bond between the second and third phosphate group is broken. At this time ATP loses a phosphate group and becomes Adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

More about ADP ADP is a low energy molecule that is a building block of ATP. It consists of adenine, ribose, and two phosphate groups.