During Electron Transport Reactions

Question

During electron transport reactions
A) OH⁻ accumulates on the outside of the membrane while H⁺ accumulates on the inside.
B) OH⁻ accumulates on the inside of the membrane while H⁺ accumulates on the outside.
C) both OH⁻ and H⁺ accumulate on the inside of the membrane.
D) both OH⁻ and H⁺ accumulate on the outside of the membrane.

Accepted Answer

During electron transport reactions, electrons are transported through the electron transport chain, and as they move down, they pump H+ from the inside of the membrane to the outside, creating an electrochemical gradient. This leads to the accumulation of OH⁻ on the inside of the membrane while H⁺ accumulates on the outside. This gradient serves as the driving force for ATP synthesis by ATP synthase, which utilizes the flow of H⁺ ions back into the mitochondria to generate ATP.