3D ATP Hydrolysis Simulation

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ATP stores transferable chemical free energy; hydrolysis produces ADP and inorganic phosphate.

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ATP Hydrolysis 3D

Reaction scenes

Mission: add water, start the reaction, and follow energy from ATP into cellular work.

Reaction controls

Water availability100%

Cellular energy demand60%

Catalyst

ATP + H₂O → ADP + Pᵢ + usable energy · ΔG°′ ≈ −30.5 kJ/mol

Simulation

Simulation speed1.00×

Camera and focus

Live changes

Reaction stateATP intactProgress0%ATP1.00ADP0.00Pᵢ0.00Energy transferred0.0 kJ/molFocused objectNone

Teacher tools

Teacher-led visual lesson

LanguageNarrator

Lesson speed1.00×

Ready. Embedded narration audio plays through the tab and uses no microphone.

Step 1 / 100%

Watch water approach ATP’s terminal phosphate.

Chapters

Learning objectives

Identify adenine, ribose and ATP’s three phosphate groups.
Trace water into ADP and inorganic phosphate products.
Explain why ATP hydrolysis is exergonic.
Connect hydrolysis to cellular work and ATP recycling.
Distinguish bond breaking from the net energy change.

Core idea

ATP couples energy-releasing reactions to energy-requiring work. Hydrolysis transfers the terminal phosphate and forms more stable, hydrated products.

Equation: ATP + H₂O → ADP + Pᵢ + energy available for coupled work.

Standard biochemical free-energy change: ΔG°′ is approximately −30.5 kJ/mol. Actual cellular ΔG depends on concentrations and conditions.

Try these experiments

Set water to zero and try to run hydrolysis.
Remove ATPase and compare reaction speed.
Watch an energy pulse power the ion pump.
Reverse the scene to synthesize ATP.

Common misconception

Breaking the terminal phosphoanhydride bond itself requires energy. The overall reaction releases usable free energy because product formation, resonance stabilization and hydration release more energy than bond breaking consumes.

Seven-question quiz

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