How does ATP store energy?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a key molecule in cellular energy transfer, and its ability to store and release energy is fundamentally linked to the high-energy bonds in its phosphate groups. Specifically, ATP consists of three phosphate groups, and the bonds between these groups, particularly the bond connecting the second and third phosphates, are known as phosphoanhydride bonds. These bonds are characterized by storing a significant amount of energy.

When ATP is hydrolyzed (meaning that one of its phosphate groups is removed, typically converting ATP to adenosine diphosphate or ADP), the energy stored in these high-energy bonds is released and can be utilized by the cell for various processes, such as muscle contraction, biochemical reactions, and active transport across cell membranes. Thus, the ability of ATP to store energy is directly related to the energy-rich bonds within its phosphate groups, making this the correct answer.

The other options fit less accurately with how ATP functions in cellular metabolism and energy transfer. For example, forming double bonds between phosphate groups does not occur in ATP; hydrogen bonds between phosphates do not significantly contribute to the energy storage mechanism; and while the conversion to ADP is a part of the energy release process