The hydrolysis of ATP is highly exergonic.
ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, serves as the primary energy currency of the cell. When ATP is hydrolyzed, it reacts with water, breaking one of its high-energy phosphate bonds to form ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and an inorganic phosphate (Pi). This reaction releases energy that can be used to power various cellular processes.
The reason the hydrolysis of ATP is considered exergonic is due to the significant release of free energy during the reaction, which has a negative Gibbs free energy change (ΔG). This energy release is crucial for driving other processes in the cell that require energy input, making ATP hydrolysis a key player in metabolism and energy transfer in biological systems.