evidence and explanation for chemiosmosis

there is a potential difference of 200mV across the inner mitochondrial membrane, being mor negative on the matrix side

• suggestion there is a difference in charge due to movement of ions across from the matrix to inner membrane

• more positively charged ions will be going into the intermembrane space

the pH is lower in the intermembrane space than the matrix

• its a suggestion that hydrogen ions have moved out of the matrix into the intermembrane space as it will cause the pH to be more acidic and lower due to the higher conc of H+ ions

when the outer membrane is removed, mitochondria can no longer generate ATP

• without the outer membrane, the H+ ions would diffuse away but they are needed for the generation of ATP so they need to be built up

when the headpiece is removed from ATP synthase, ATP can no longer be produced

• suggests the headpiece is essential for producing ATP

mitochondria exposed to oligomycin cannot generate ATP

• highlights that protons need to flow through a channel to produce ATP