Here's why:
* Electron transport chain: This is the final stage of cellular respiration. Electrons from glucose are passed down a chain of protein complexes, releasing energy along the way. This energy is used to pump protons (H+) across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a concentration gradient.
* Chemiosmosis: The proton gradient created by the electron transport chain drives ATP production. Protons flow back across the membrane through ATP synthase, an enzyme that uses the energy of this flow to convert ADP to ATP.
While glycolysis and the Krebs cycle produce some ATP, the majority of ATP produced in cellular respiration comes from the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. This process generates a net gain of around 34 ATP molecules per glucose molecule.
