What is meant by the "tri" in the name adenosine triphosphate?

1 Answer
James C.
Jan 30, 2016

The "tri' in Adenosine triphosphate is the amount of phosphate atoms in the molecule.

Explanation:

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) has a molecular formular of C10H16N5O13P3

As shown in the molecular formular and diagram bellow, the ATP molecule has three (which is "tri" in molecular naming) phosphate atoms which are covalently bonded to oxygen atoms.

![https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Adenosintriphosphat_protoniertsvg](useruploads.socratic.orguseruploads.socratic.org)

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