what is the difference between starch and atp

Question

anonymous · Answer

Answer choices?

abb0t · Answer

one is energy, the other stores it.

aaronq · Answer

There are $\sf many$ differences. In terms of energetics, ATP (with it's high-potential phosphoanhydride bonds) functions as an immediate source of energy to drive forward unfavourable chemical reactions, while starch (composed of 2 glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin) functions as an "energy depot", as these organic molecules cannot be directly used by enzymes to drive forward unfavourable chemical reactions. Starch needs to be oxidized by catabolic cellular pathways to convert the potential energy in the bonds to a useable form (i.e. ATP).