Knowee
Questions
Features
Study Tools

The organelle that is involved in harvesting the chemical energy in food through oxidation is called

Question

The organelle that is involved in harvesting the chemical energy in food through oxidation is called

🧐 Not the exact question you are looking for?Go ask a question

Solution

The organelle that is involved in harvesting the chemical energy in food through oxidation is called the mitochondrion.

Here are the steps of how it works:

  1. Glycolysis: This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and breaks down glucose, a simple sugar, into a compound called pyruvate. This process produces a small amount of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is a molecule that cells use for energy.

  2. Pyruvate Decarboxylation: The pyruvate is transported into the mitochondrion, where it is converted into a compound called acetyl CoA.

  3. Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs Cycle): The acetyl CoA is further broken down in the mitochondrion in a cycle of reactions that produces more ATP and other energy-rich molecules.

  4. Electron Transport Chain: The energy-rich molecules from the citric acid cycle are used in the inner membrane of the mitochondrion to produce even more ATP. This is the main source of ATP production in the cell.

  5. Oxidative Phosphorylation: This is the final step in the process of cellular respiration. It is where the majority of the ATP is produced. The energy from the electrons is used to pump protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating a gradient. The protons then flow back across the membrane, driving the synthesis of ATP.

So, the mitochondrion is the organelle that is involved in harvesting the chemical energy in food through oxidation.

This problem has been solved

Upgrade your grade with Knowee

Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.