Question

What are the 3 main steps in the electron transport chain?

Answer 1

Electron transport chain:

1. The final stage of aerobic respiration is the electron transport chain, which occurs on the inner mitochondrial membrane.
2. The inner membrane is arranged into folds (cristae), which increases the surface area available.
3. The electron transport chain releases the energy stored within the reduced hydrogen carriers in order to produce ATP, which is called oxidative phosphorylation, as the energy to synthesize ATP is derived from the oxidation of hydrogen carriers.
4. The three main steps in the electron transport chain are:
5. Step 1: Generation of a proton gradient across the mitochondrial membrane. Proton accumulation occurs in the intermembrane space of mitochondria.
6. Step 2: Reduction of molecular oxygen and formation of water. Oxygen acts as the terminal electron acceptor.
7. Step 3: ATP synthesis by chemiosmosis. The enzyme ATP synthase catalyzes ATP synthesis.