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Multiple Choice
Why is oxygen needed for cellular respiration?
A
Oxygen is used to break down glucose during glycolysis.
B
Oxygen is necessary for the synthesis of ATP in the cytoplasm.
C
Oxygen is required to initiate the Krebs cycle.
D
Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that cellular respiration is a process that cells use to convert biochemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and then release waste products.
Recognize that cellular respiration consists of several stages: glycolysis, the Krebs cycle (also known as the citric acid cycle), and the electron transport chain.
Identify that oxygen's role in cellular respiration is primarily in the electron transport chain, which is the final stage of the process.
In the electron transport chain, electrons are transferred through a series of proteins embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. These electrons are passed down the chain and ultimately need to be accepted by a molecule to prevent a backup of electrons.
Oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor at the end of the electron transport chain. It combines with electrons and protons to form water, a crucial step that allows the electron transport chain to continue functioning and enables the synthesis of ATP.