How is o2 used in cellular respiration

Once oxygen gets into the cell, it further diffuses into the mitochondria, which is the powerhouse of the cell.

Oxygen plays a vital role in energy production via a system called electron transport chain ETC , which is an important component of cellular respiration. The electron transport chain produces adenosine triphosphate, the main cellular energy. Oxygen acts as a final electron acceptor that helps move electrons down a chain that results in adenosine triphosphate production.

To summarize this process, the food we eat is metabolized in a way to release electrons and hydrogen ions used by the mitochondria to produce adenosine triphosphate. However, this process requires energy. The electrons released have a high potential energy that could be used to fuel adenosine triphosphate synthesis. Therefore, special electron transporters exist in the mitochondria that help with the release of this high energy.

Oxygen acts as a final electron acceptor in the chain and completes the process. Now that I have explained the science, the main reason we breathe oxygen and not something else is because oxygen is electronegative. The final stage is called electron transport phosphorylation. Energy from the electrons is converted to ATP.

Once the electrons have been used, they are donated to atoms of hydrogen and oxygen to make water. Glycolysis is the first stage of all respiration. During this stage, every molecule of glucose is broken down into a carbon-based molecule called pyruvate, two ATP molecules, and two molecules of NADH. Once this reaction has occurred, the pyruvate goes through a further chemical reaction called fermentation. In aerobic respiration, the pyruvate is further broken down and combined with oxygen to create carbon dioxide and water, which are eliminated from the body.

Pyruvate is a carbon-based molecule; each molecule of pyruvate contains three carbon molecules. Only two of these molecules are used to create carbon dioxide in the final step of glycolysis. Thus, after glycolysis there is loose carbon floating around.

This carbon binds to various enzymes to create chemicals used in other capacities in the cell. Once the electrons are used, they become depleted and must be removed from the body. Oxygen is essential for this task. Used electrons bind with oxygen; these molecules eventually bind with hydrogen to form water. Jack Ori has been a writer since He has worked with clients in the legal, financial and nonprofit industries, as well as contributed self-help articles to various publications.

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