the 3 main parts of etc

3 main parts

A: Electron transfer, proton pumping, and ATP synthesis.

Q: What happens during electron transfer in the ETC?

A: NADH and FADH₂ donate electrons that pass through carriers and complexes until they reach oxygen.

Q: What happens during proton pumping in the ETC?

A: Energy released by electron transfer is used to move H⁺ ions from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space.

Q: What happens during ATP synthesis?

A: H⁺ ions flow back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase, driving ATP production.

Q: Why does the ETC pump H⁺ ions into the intermembrane space?

A: To build a proton gradient that stores energy and drives ATP synthesis when H⁺ flows back through ATP synthase.

Q: What is ATP synthase?

A: An enzyme that uses the energy of H⁺ flowing down its electrochemical gradient to produce ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.