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oxidation = the removal of hydrogen
reduction = the gaining of hydrogen
combustion = a rapid oxidation of fuel (like glucose)
for cellular purposes a stepwise, controlled process provides every to carrier molecules that are then used to make ATP
if a sugar is combusted - the energy is thermal/heat → do not want this for cellular processes
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) & flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are coenzymes, the help the enzymes catalyze the oxidation of glucose
NAD+ and FAD are energy carriers used in the oxidation of food
dehydrogenase enzymes remove hydrogen ions (oxidize) and pass them to carriers which get reduced
this process extracts energy from glucose with oxygen producing ATP
it is divided into 4 stages - it starts in the cytoplasm and most occur in the mitochondria
glycolysis → pyruvate oxidation → citric acid cycle → electron transport chain
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energy can be produced without oxygen via fermentation but it is much less efficient and produces toxic byproducts