Final answer:
In the oxidation of glucose, NAD+ and FAD serve as electron donors, becoming NADH and FADH₂. In aerobic respiration, oxygen is the terminal electron acceptor, reduced to water at the end of the ETS.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the oxidation and reduction of glucose, the primary electron donor is glucose itself, as it is broken down through glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. Throughout these processes, electrons are transferred to energy carriers such as NAD+, converting it to NADH, and FAD, converting it to FADH₂. These carriers then donate electrons to the electron transport chain (ETS).
In aerobic respiration, the final, or terminal electron acceptor, is molecular oxygen (O₂), which becomes reduced to water (H₂O) after accepting electrons passed down through the ETS. This conversion involves a series of redox reactions, ultimately leading to the production of ATP. Cytochrome oxidase plays a central role in these reactions, with different types present in various organisms, impacting diagnostic processes in bacteria.