Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Why is oxygen important for cellular respiration?
A
Oxygen is required for the synthesis of ATP in the cytoplasm.
B
Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.
C
Oxygen is necessary for the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA.
D
Oxygen is used to break down glucose during glycolysis.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the process of cellular respiration, which consists of glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain. Oxygen plays a crucial role in the electron transport chain.
Recognize that glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm and does not require oxygen. It breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH.
Learn that pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA in the mitochondria, a process that requires oxygen indirectly as it prepares for the citric acid cycle.
Explore the electron transport chain, where oxygen is essential as the final electron acceptor. Electrons are transferred through a series of proteins, and oxygen accepts these electrons, allowing the chain to continue functioning.
Understand that the acceptance of electrons by oxygen allows for the production of water and facilitates the generation of a proton gradient, which drives the synthesis of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.