Which metabolic process uses oxygen within cells to produce energy?

Which metabolic process uses oxygen within cells to produce energy?

• A. Amino acids
• B. Amphetamines
• C. Aerobic metabolism
• D. Alkalosis

Answer: (C)

Aerobic metabolism, or cellular respiration, uses oxygen to generate energy in cells. Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, allowing nutrients like glucose to be fully oxidized and ATP to be produced efficiently. This pathway takes place mainly in the mitochondria and yields much more ATP than anaerobic routes, which is why it’s the primary energy source when oxygen is available. The other terms don’t describe an oxygen-requiring energy-producing process: amino acids are nutrients that can be used for energy but aren’t themselves the oxygen-using energy pathway; amphetamines are drugs; alkalosis is a pH imbalance.

Aerobic metabolism, or cellular respiration, uses oxygen to generate energy in cells. Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, allowing nutrients like glucose to be fully oxidized and ATP to be produced efficiently. This pathway takes place mainly in the mitochondria and yields much more ATP than anaerobic routes, which is why it’s the primary energy source when oxygen is available. The other terms don’t describe an oxygen-requiring energy-producing process: amino acids are nutrients that can be used for energy but aren’t themselves the oxygen-using energy pathway; amphetamines are drugs; alkalosis is a pH imbalance.