Happens in the inner mitochondrial membrane
- Reduced NAD/Reduced FAD will be oxidized
- Hydrogen is released, splits into protons (hydrogen ions) and electrons
- electrons move along the ETC
- ETC pumps protons against the gradient into the intermembrane space
- creates a proton gradient between intermembrane space (higher proton concentration) and matrix (lower proton concentration)
- protons diffuse through the ATP synthase, and ATP is produced
- Oxygen is the final electron acceptor
