Is most of the ATP produced in cellular respiration associated with the formation of pyruvic acid, the production of alcohol, the Krebs cycle or the formation of water? I'm pretty sure it's the formation of pyruvic acid...right?
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The formation of water. The electron transport system relies on an electron gradient across the inner membrane of the mitochondria. In order to maintain this gradient, oxygen molecules must accept free hydrogen molecules to form water. Oxygen acts as the final acceptor of these hydrogen atoms, and without them, the electron transport process cannot occur. The majority of ATP in cellular respiration is synthesized by an enzyme called ATPase, which is located on the inner membrane of the mitochondria. It is the movement of hydrogen atoms through this complex and subsequent formation of water that produces ATP.
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the formation of water. 32 ATP molecules are produced during the electron transport chain, 2 ATP are produced in the Krebs cycle and 2 ATP are produced in glycolysis. That gives 36 ATP molecules total (from one molecule of glucose). SO, the most ATP is produced in the electron transport chain, which is where the formation of water takes place :)
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Most of the ATP produced during aerobic cellular respiration occurs as a result of the Krebs cycle. In anaerobic respiration, the Krabs cycle doesn't function, so ATP is produced during the production of pyruvic acid (in glycolysis).