Why does hydrogen bond so tightly to oxygen during cellular respiration?

Answer 1

Hydrogen bonding between hydrogen and oxygen during cellular respiration is important for several reasons:

1. Carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds in glucose are broken during cellular respiration. This results in the generation of hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons (e-). These electrons are picked up by an electron carrier molecule called NAD+ and transferred to the electron transport chain.

2. In the electron transport chain, electrons are sequentially passed along a series of protein complexes, which generate energy through a series of redox reactions. Eventually, the electrons combine with oxygen (O2) at the end of the chain, forming water (H2O). Hydrogen bonding between the hydrogen ions (H+) generated from the breaking of C-H bonds in glucose and the oxygen molecule (O2) allows for the effective transfer of electrons, which is crucial for energy production.

3. Hydrogen bonding also helps to stabilize the shape and structure of proteins and enzymes involved in cellular respiration. Proper folding and functioning of these molecules are essential for the efficient catalysis of metabolic reactions.

Overall, the tight hydrogen bonding between hydrogen and oxygen facilitates the transfer of electrons for energy production and helps maintain the stability of proteins involved in cellular respiration.