Why is glucose such a good energy source for cells and water is not?

Answer 1

There's a lot of potential energy in the bonds between atoms in glucose. Through a series of atomic rearrangements and coupling and decoupling of phosphate, the body manages to release enough energy in those bonds to form molecules of stable adenosine-tri-phosphate (ATP, which has REALLY high-energy bonds) that can be broken apart on demand to release energy where needed.

Although there's energy in the oxygen-hydrogen bonds of water, each molecule of glucose packs a lot more punch. Additionally, its very important that those phosphate groups that are on ATP have some way to move onto the adenosine; water has no direct way of doing that.

Think of glucose as a tugboat, helping move a barge of cargo upriver to its destination. The destination is adenosine, and the cargo is phosphate. When C-C bonds are broken, that's like the tugboat burning its fuel to move upriver. Phosphate gets linked to the glucose early in the process, and at various points in the metabolic pathway, the tugboat makes "phosphate" deliveries to adnosine molecules with 1 or 2 phosphates so that the phosphorylated adenosine can then deliver energy elsewhere. Water has no ability to "hook up" the phosphates", so even though it has potential energy, it can't serve both the purpose of providing energy and helping find a way for the body to store it.

Answer 2

Glucose is a six memembered ring made up of carbons and hydrogens (hence the term carbohydrate). There are many bonds that can be broken to yield energy. Water contains two hydrogens and one oxygen. Not what the body can use to create new material for cells. However, water is still required by the body to either hydrolize bonds of the actual sugars (glucose, fructose, etc) and to act as acid (H+) or base (-OH) in biochemical reactions.

Answer 3

My high school teacher said:

Glucose: Dollar bill...

ATP: Coins....

Glucose is effective, because it can be broken down to ATPs.

ATPs in term phosphorylate.

The main reason, i believe is that water is not a good energy

source is that , Eukaryo or Bacteria Or Archea, does not

have organelle that could use water as a power source.

Answer 4

The structure of glucose is much more sophisticated then that of water. (in fact, any carbohydrate's structure is more sophisticated than that of water) and subsequently holds more energy within the bonds. Also, Adenine Triphosphate (ATP), the principle energy source of organisms, requires phosphates found on variations of glucose. Glucose is a carbohydrate that can be morphed into fructose, di or polysaccharides like starches and maltose. The large number of variations on basic glucose allows for more utility in the generation of ATP, NADH, NADPH and other high-energy molecules.

Answer 5

The cells use glucose and insulin to provide energy for the cell. Water does not provide any energy - it's the medium in which the glucose and insulin are used.

Answer 6

The process of digestion produces glucose, therefore it can be fed straight into body for energy. Water is needed for the process of digestion.

Answer 7

cells need sugar to cary out their functions, and watr does not provide glucose check out the krebs cycle

Answer 8

sugars have way more potential energy in their molecules.