Heat fix a smear of bacteria
Stain using crystal violet stain
Fix the stain with iodine
Decolourise with alcohol
Counterstain with safranin.
Releases energy in small amounts so none is wasted.
Small, soluble and easily transported.
Only 1 bond broken to release energy so this is immediate.
Can transfer energy to other molecules through phosphate groups.
Cannot pass out of cell, so supply of energy is always there.