2007-04-22 11:41:33 · 4 answers · asked by Shamela C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The oxygen is used for the final electron acceptor during cellular respiration.
The last part of cellular respiration is the electron transport chain. The electrons are passed along the chain, and the H+ ions are pumped to one side of the membrane so they can rush out through an enzyme to generate ATP. Oxygen picks up these electrons and hydrogen ions so the process will continue. Without oxygen, the whole process gets backed up to glycolysis. Cells that can manage it carry on fermentation. Other cells are just out of luck at that point.
2007-04-22 21:09:14 · answer #1 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen gets converted to water in the process that produces energy for the cell.
2007-04-22 18:50:27 · answer #2 · answered by Tryptophan 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The oxygen is used during cellular respiration to create energy for the cell. Check out the equation for cellular respiration for exact numbers.
2007-04-22 19:09:47 · answer #3 · answered by shaffermt@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am not very sure, but I do know that you need oxygen to help your muscles contract at a steady rate. The less oxygen you have in your muscles, the faster you get tired.
2007-04-22 18:45:07 · answer #4 · answered by ?cgc2006 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋