Lesson 3.1.6.1

3.1.6.1 ATP structure, hydrolysis and synthesis Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.1.6.1, ATP structure, hydrolysis and synthesis: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 1: Biological molecules, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which three components make up a molecule of ATP?

    • Glucose, uracil and one phosphate group
    • Ribose, adenine and three phosphate groups
    • Deoxyribose, guanine and two phosphate groups
    • Ribose, cytosine and two phosphate groups

  2. Which enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate?

    • DNA polymerase
    • DNA helicase
    • ATP synthase
    • ATP hydrolase

  3. Which enzyme resynthesises ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate during respiration or photosynthesis?

    • ATP hydrolase
    • DNA polymerase
    • Amylase
    • ATP synthase

  4. What are the products of the hydrolysis of ATP?

    • ADP and inorganic phosphate
    • ADP and glucose
    • AMP and two inorganic phosphates
    • Adenine and three phosphate groups

  5. Why is ATP described as a suitable energy currency for cells?

    • It contains a double bond in each phosphate group that releases heat when the molecule is used with no exceptions
    • It releases a usable amount of energy in one step, and it is rapidly regenerated from ADP and Pi
    • It is made from lipids, so it can cross the cell-surface membrane easily by simple diffusion
    • It stores large amounts of energy for long periods of time in the cytoplasm of the cell

  6. What is phosphorylation in the context of ATP?

    • The formation of a glycosidic bond between two monosaccharide units by a condensation reaction
    • The removal of a phosphate group from a DNA nucleotide so that the molecule can be converted into RNA
    • The transfer of an inorganic phosphate group to another compound, often making it more reactive
    • The breakdown of a phospholipid into glycerol and fatty acids by the action of hydrolytic enzymes

  7. Which sugar forms part of ATP's structure?

    • Deoxyribose
    • Ribose
    • Glucose
    • Galactose

  8. How many water molecules are used in the hydrolysis of one molecule of ATP to ADP and Pi?

    • 0
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1

  9. The molar mass of ATP is 507 g/mol and that of ADP is 427 g/mol. Water (18 g/mol) is used in the hydrolysis. What is the molar mass of inorganic phosphate formed?

    • 80 g/mol
    • 116 g/mol
    • 525 g/mol
    • 98 g/mol

  10. A muscle cell rapidly contracts and uses ATP. Which process resynthesises the ATP that is hydrolysed?

    • DNA helicase separating the two strands of DNA in the nucleus so that the genes can be read
    • Benedict's solution identifying the presence of glucose in the cell so that the sugar can be used
    • ATP synthase catalysing condensation of ADP and Pi, powered by respiration
    • ATP hydrolase catalysing the breakdown of ATP into ADP and inorganic phosphate in the muscle cell

  11. Active transport moves ions against a concentration gradient. How is ATP used in this process?

    • It forms a peptide bond with the ion, which crosses the membrane
    • It acts as the carrier protein, binding to the ions and moving them across
    • It is converted to glucose, which then diffuses through the membrane
    • Its hydrolysis is coupled to the carrier protein, releasing energy that drives the movement

  12. Glucose is phosphorylated during the early stages of respiration. What is the purpose of this phosphorylation?

    • It uses an inorganic phosphate from ATP to make glucose more reactive so that it can be broken down
    • It forms a glycosidic bond that joins two glucose molecules together into a disaccharide molecule with no exceptions
    • It converts the glucose into starch, which can then be stored more efficiently inside the cell
    • It removes oxygen from the glucose so that the sugar can be stored in the cell for later use

  13. Why are cells able to keep only a small amount of ATP at any one time?

    • ATP is too large to be stored inside the cytoplasm of most cells
    • ATP can only be made from glucose, which cells lack in large amounts
    • ATP is continuously hydrolysed and resynthesised, so a small pool turns over rapidly
    • ATP is toxic in large amounts, so cells must destroy the excess immediately

  14. Which type of reaction forms ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate?

    • Oxidation
    • Condensation
    • Reduction
    • Hydrolysis

  15. A student claims that ATP is the best long-term energy store in the body. Which evaluation is correct?

    • Correct, because ATP contains more energy per gram than any other molecule found in living organisms
    • Correct, because ATP is stable at all temperatures and so does not need to be regenerated in the cell
    • Incorrect, because ATP is not a nucleotide derivative and therefore cannot store any energy at all
    • Incorrect, because ATP is only a short-term energy carrier, while fats and glycogen store energy for longer periods

  16. Explain why ATP hydrolysis releases energy, in terms of the phosphate groups.

    • The phosphate groups are non-polar, so they release heat when they separate from the ribose sugar in the molecule in every case
    • The ribose sugar is oxidised during hydrolysis, so the energy stored in its carbon bonds is released
    • The hydrolysis of ATP forms a new covalent bond between the phosphate groups, which releases energy as heat
    • The negatively charged phosphate groups are crowded together, and the products are more stable, so energy is released

  17. Explain why ATP is described as a nucleotide derivative and how it differs from a DNA nucleotide.

    • ATP contains deoxyribose and uracil in its structure, whereas a DNA nucleotide contains ribose and thymine instead in every case
    • ATP is a polymer of nucleotides joined together in a chain, whereas a DNA nucleotide is a single sugar unit only
    • ATP has ribose, adenine and three phosphates, whereas a DNA nucleotide has one phosphate and polymerises into a chain
    • ATP contains amino acids and is therefore a protein, whereas a DNA nucleotide contains no nitrogen atoms at all

  18. A cell hydrolyses ATP at a rate of 2 mol per second for 30 seconds. How many moles of water are used?

    • 60 mol
    • 2 mol
    • 30 mol
    • 120 mol

  19. What is the ratio of phosphate groups in ATP to phosphate groups in ADP?

    • 3:1
    • 3:2
    • 1:1
    • 2:3

  20. Explain how ATP links the energy-releasing reactions of respiration to energy-requiring reactions in the cell.

    • Energy from respiration resynthesises ATP from ADP and Pi, and hydrolysis of ATP then supplies energy to energy-requiring reactions
    • Respiration uses ATP as a substrate, so energy-requiring reactions must wait until respiration has finished
    • ATP is produced only by photosynthesis, so respiration cannot supply energy to any of the reactions in the cell
    • Energy from respiration is stored as ATP, which is then converted into lipid for long-term storage in the cell

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