Question

Fat and ATP are different molecules that can both be described as molecules that store energy. Compare the functions of these molecules in terms of energy storage.
@nerdychick16

Answer 1

is right: fat stores energy for longer periods and ATP is immediate energy currency which can be spent at any retail outlet in the cell. By which I euphemistically mean that it can be used to power most energy requiring cellular processes.

Mud didn't mention why: basically, fats contain all their energy in many bonds between carbons and hydrogens in hydrocarbon 'tails.' These bonds are all low energy, which means the molecule is stable and molecularly well suited to long term energy storage - but because there are many bonds in each fat, together they all contain quite a bit of energy.

ATP is exactly the opposite: it stores most of its energy in one very high energy bond. That third phosphate group has bulky negatively charged oxygens which really don't want to be close to the negatively charged oxygens on the other phosphates, so a great deal of energy is stored in the bond. It wants to break. And when it does it releases a great deal of energy.

Brought that up because I rather like the contrast between the two at the molecular level. http://openstudy.com/updates/4f8ee0d7e4b000310fad1af7

Answer 2

ok i know this is random but who is mud

Answer 3

"Mud didn't mention why: basically, fats contain all their energy in many bonds between carbons and hydrogens in hydrocarbon 'tails.' "

Answer 4

Here's ATP.

A = ADENOSINE
T = Tri
P = phosphate.

Adenosine tri-phosphate. The energy is stored in the phosphate bonds.

when you break those phosphate bonds you release alot of energy!