Many metabolic pathways are ultimately concerned with ATP; either with the generation of ATP, or with the requirement of ATP for that pathway to function. Why is ATP so important to metabolism

The phosphate groups of ATP are held together by unstable bonds that can be broken to release energy.

Explanation:

Biological reactions release energy from redox reactions graduallly trapped it as ATP.

ATP is the general molecule that cells use to power most of their activities. The phosphate groups of ATP are held together by unstable bonds that can be broken to release energy.  ATP is a molecule under stress with too many negative charges in one place. Release of one phosphate relieves the stress and releases energy which can be used for cellular activities like transport , motility etc.