Question

Why does the electron transport chain produce the most ATP?

Answer 1

Electron transport chain:

1. The oxidative phosphorylation process, also known as the electron transport chain, is a collection of four protein complexes that combine redox events to produce an electrochemical gradient that results in the production of ATP.
2. Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration take place in mitochondria.
3. All living things contain the energy-carrying molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in their cells.
4. When food molecules are broken down, chemical energy is released that is captured by ATP and used to power other cellular operations.

ATP production:

1. The ETC is made up of a group of proteins that are affixed to the inner mitochondrial membrane and organic molecules that allow electrons to pass through and release energy through a series of redox processes.
2. The protein ATP-synthase uses the energy liberated to create a proton gradient, which is then utilised in chemiosmosis to produce a significant amount of ATP.
3. The electrochemical gradient created by the electron transport chain makes it easier for ATP synthase to manufacture ATP by chemiosmosis.
4. The F1 subunit generates one ATP molecule for every two protons that are transferred from intermembrane space to the matrix by the F0 subunit.
5. The mitochondria's inner membrane is where the electron transport chain is found.
6. According to recent studies, the electron transport cycle produces about 30-32 ATP molecules.