describe the features of ATP that make it suitable as the universal energy currency
explain that during oxidative phosphorylation: • hydrogen atoms split into protons and energetic electrons • energetic electrons release energy as they pass through the electron transport chain (details of carriers are not expected) • the released energy is used to transfer protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane • protons return to the mitochondrial matrix by facilitated diffusion through ATP synthase, providing energy for ATP synthesis (details of ATP synthase are not expected) • oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor to form water