What is meant by the "tri" in the name adenosine triphosphate?

1 Answer
Jan 30, 2016

The "tri' in Adenosine triphosphate is the amount of phosphate atoms in the molecule.

Explanation:

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) has a molecular formular of #C_10H_16N_5O_13P_3#

As shown in the molecular formular and diagram bellow, the ATP molecule has three (which is "tri" in molecular naming) phosphate atoms which are covalently bonded to oxygen atoms.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Adenosintriphosphat_protoniertsvg