Cellular Respiration and Redox Reactions

Flashcards focused on key vocabulary and concepts related to cellular respiration and redox reactions.

Oxidation

The loss of electrons from a substance in a chemical reaction, making it more positive.

Reduction

The addition of electrons to a substance in a chemical reaction, making it more negative.

Redox Reactions

Chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between two substances.

Glycolysis

The process that breaks down glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH, and occurs in the cytoplasm.

Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle)

A series of chemical reactions used by all aerobic organisms to generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA, producing ATP, NADH, and FADH2.

Oxidative Phosphorylation

The process in cellular respiration where ATP is formed as a result of the transfer of electrons from NADH and FADH2 to oxygen via the electron transport chain.

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions across a selectively permeable membrane, down their concentration gradient, which is used to generate ATP.

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that creates ATP by using the energy from protons moving down their gradient through the enzyme.

Activated Carriers

Molecules like NADH and FADH2 that store and transport energy and electrons within cells during metabolism.

Energy Investment Phase

The first phase of glycolysis where energy is consumed to activate glucose.

Energy Payoff Phase

The second phase of glycolysis where ATP and NADH are produced from the breakdown of glucose.

Proton-Motive Force

The force that promotes the movement of protons across membranes during chemiosmosis.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that transfer electrons, leading to ATP synthesis via oxidative phosphorylation.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Organic Molecules with Abundance of Hydrogen

Excellent sources of high-energy electrons required in cellular respiration.