Final answer:
The citric acid cycle produces NADH and FADH2 as activated carriers that transfer high-energy electrons to the electron-transport chain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The citric acid cycle produces NADH and FADH2 as activated carriers that transfer high-energy electrons to the electron-transport chain.
The citric acid cycle is a series of redox and decarboxylation reactions that remove high-energy electrons and carbon dioxide. The electrons are temporarily stored in molecules of NADH and FADH2. These molecules then donate their high-energy electrons to the electron-transport chain, which transfers the electrons to power ATP synthesis.
The oxidation reactions in the citric acid cycle release energy, which is coupled to the reduction of NAD to NADH and FAD to FADH2. The high-energy electrons carried by NADH and FADH2 complete the electron-transport chain, ultimately reducing oxygen molecules to form water and producing ATP.