why does the oxidation of organic compounds by molecular oxygen to produce CO2 and water released free energy?

Question

A) the covalent bonds in organic molecules are higher energy bonds than those in water and carbon dioxide
B) electrons are being moved from atoms that have a lower affinity for electrons (such as C) to atoms with a higher affinity for electrons (such as O).
C) the oxidation of organic compounds can be used to make ATP
D) the electrons have a higher potential energy when associated with water and CO2 than they do in organic compounds
E) the covalent bond in O2 is unstable adn easily broken by electros from organic molecules

Answer 1

I agree that A is correct, but C seems correct to me as well. In substrate level phosphorylation, the energy of the oxidation step is conserved by the formation of a phosphoester linkage which is then used to create ATP. Also, the NADH and FADH2 produced in the oxidation steps are used to create a electrochemical gradient. The energy from the gradient is then used to create ATP.

Answer 2

The answer is A. Carbon Dioxide and Water are very STABLE compounds and thus are favored as products in the oxidation of organic compounds. Thermodynamically, the energy levels of the products are less than that of the reactants, resulting in the release of energy - which is another way of stating A).

Answer 3

electrons are being moved from atoms that have a lower affinity for elections to atoms with a higher affinity for electrons

Answer 4

It's B!

Answer 5

B