What is the difference between ADP and ATP?

1 Answer

ADP is adenosine diphosphate
ATP is adenosine triphosphate

Explanation:

DNA is made up of 4 basic nucleic acids: #A#, #T#, #G#, and #C#

  • #A# stands for adenine
  • #T# for thymine
  • #G# for guanine
  • #C# for cytosine

When a phosphate group is attached to these molecules it is called a nucleotide and the molecule devoid phosphate is called nucleoside.

Adenine attached to two phosphate groups is called adenosine diphosphate, i.e. ADP, and when it is attached to three phosphate groups it is called adenosine triphosphate, i.e. ATP.

The hydrolysis of ATP gives rise to ADP.

#"ATP" + "H"_ 2"O" -> "ADP" + "PPi"#

http://bio100.class.uic.edu/lectf03am/