Oxidative phosphorylation

The reduced NAD/FAD release hudrogen (to become oxidised). Hydrogen is split into protons (H+) and electrons (e-). The electrons are transferred along the ETC in a series of redox reactions and energy is released. The energy is used to pump the protons (H+) from the matix, across the crista membrane into the intermembrane space. This causes an increase in H+ concentration in the intermembrane space, forming an electrochemical gradient (a concentration gradient of ions). The protons diffuse through and activate the ATP synthase protein. ATP synthase phosphorylates many ADP to form many ATP. At the end of the ETC, oxygen combines with the electrons and the protons to form water (oxygen has been reduced). Oxygen is known as the final electron acceptor.