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Multiple Choice
Which best describes how energy is captured in ATP during aerobic cellular respiration?
A
Energy is directly transferred from glucose to ATP in a single enzymatic step.
B
Oxygen directly donates electrons to ADP to form ATP.
C
Energy from glucose oxidation is used to generate a proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis via chemiosmosis.
D
ATP is produced only during glycolysis and not in the mitochondria.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the process of aerobic cellular respiration, which involves multiple stages: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation. Each stage contributes to ATP production in different ways.
Step 2: Recognize that glucose oxidation occurs during glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, where glucose is broken down into smaller molecules, releasing energy in the form of electrons carried by NADH and FADH2.
Step 3: Learn that during oxidative phosphorylation, the electrons from NADH and FADH2 are transferred through the electron transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient across the membrane.
Step 4: Understand the concept of chemiosmosis, where the proton gradient drives the enzyme ATP synthase to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi). This is the primary mechanism of ATP production during aerobic respiration.
Step 5: Note that oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, allowing the process to continue efficiently. This ensures the generation of the proton gradient necessary for ATP synthesis via chemiosmosis.