Can ATP be Compared to a Capacitor in Terms of Energy Storage?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the comparison of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to capacitors in terms of energy storage. Participants explore the mechanisms of energy storage in ATP, its charge characteristics, and the implications of these properties in biological systems.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that ATP's structure, with three oxygen atoms each having spare electrons, makes it similar to a capacitor, questioning why ATP does not experience issues like dielectric breakdown or self-discharge.
  • Another participant argues that ATP is more akin to a battery than a capacitor, noting that it has no net charge in its standard state.
  • A follow-up inquiry challenges the claim of no net charge by referencing a structural image of ATP that shows negatively charged oxygen atoms, asking for clarification on how the molecule can have no overall negative charge.
  • In response, it is proposed that the negative charges on the oxygen atoms are solvated by protons in an aqueous environment, which stabilizes the molecule, indicating that energy is stored in the bonds rather than in charge separation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether ATP functions more like a capacitor or a battery, with no consensus reached on the comparison. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of ATP's charge characteristics.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions regarding the behavior of ATP in biological systems that are not fully explored, such as the role of the aqueous environment in stabilizing charges and the nature of energy storage in molecular bonds.

Stanley514
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I`ve read that ATP stores lot of energy because it have three oxygen atoms, each one with spare electron.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenosine_triphosphate"
1)So it seems very similar to capacitor to me.How it happens that ATP do not experience the similar problems to capacitor such as dielectric breakdown and self discharge?If human body contains huge amount of ATP molecules it should have giant negative charge.So why we do not make lightnings to the ground?
2)Is it possible to make a capacitor which whould work similar to ATP and store huge amount of energy?
 
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ATP is much more like a battery than a capacitor. It has no net charge in its standard state.
 
ATP is much more like a battery than a capacitor. It has no net charge in its standard state.
How then you explain this picture:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ATP_structure.svg"
There is four oxygen atoms which have negative charge on the picture O- O- O- O-
How is it possible that entire molecule has no negative charge?Could you explain it in detail?
 
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Those negative charges are solvated by protons in an aqueous environment, which stabilize the molecule. The energy is stored in the bonds between oxygen, not in charge separation (per se).
 

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