Aerobic respiration involves the breakdown of glucose, producing carbon dioxide, water, and ATP, which is energy. This process is followed by three steps: Glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle, and electron transport.
Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. Glucose is broken down into two pyruvates, which are 3 carbon molecules. NADH, a large molecule is also produced because the pyruvate is oxidized or “groomed”. Pieces of the molecule is chopped off, releasing NADH, acetyl CoA, and C02, which diffuses out of the cell.
In the Kreb’s cycle, AcetylCoA is brought into the cycle, where a set of reactions occur to release 2 ATP, NADH, FADH2, and C02.
Oxidation phosphorylation is the third step, including the electron transport chain. Electrons are delivered by NADH and FADH2. Hydrogen atoms go through a redox reaction, meaning atoms either gain or lose electrons. Oxygen is highly electronegative, so it pulls electrons through the electron transport chain. Electrons provide the energy to pump hydrogens across the membrane. Eventually, protons will flow down the gradient through the ATP synthase, creating ATP.
