Here's why:
* Structure of ATP: ATP consists of an adenine base, a ribose sugar, and three phosphate groups. The phosphate groups are the key to understanding the oxidation number of phosphorus.
* Phosphate Group: In a phosphate group (PO₄³⁻), oxygen has an oxidation number of -2. The overall charge of the phosphate group is -3. To balance the charge, the phosphorus atom must have an oxidation number of +5.
* ATP: In ATP, all three phosphate groups have the same structure.
Therefore, each phosphorus atom in ATP has an oxidation number of +5.
