It is often stated that the phosphate bonds in atp are "high energy," but in fact, they are not notably high in energy. rather, they are easy to break, and the δg of hydrolysis is a "useful" quantity of energy. what makes the phosphate bonds easy to break? negative charges on phosphate groups repel each other. positive charges on amino groups repel each other. high acidity attacks bonds between amino acids. high alkalinity attacks bonds between phosphate groups. they are close to the destabilizing nitrogenous base adenosine.