Final answer:
The electron transport chain is part of aerobic respiration where electrons from NADH and FADH2 are transferred through a series of redox reactions in the inner mitochondrial membrane, reducing oxygen to water and contributing to ATP synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The electron transport chain is a crucial component of aerobic respiration, during which electrons are passed through a series of redox reactions. These reactions occur in the inner mitochondrial membrane and involve complexes I to IV and mobile electron carriers like coenzyme Q and cytochrome c. However, it is important to correct the student's misunderstanding: NADH is not the final electron acceptor but rather the donor that initiates the electron transport. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor, which gets reduced to form water.
The process begins with high-energy electrons from NADH and FADH2 which enter the chain and get transferred to various acceptors, eventually leading to the production of ATP and the reduction of oxygen to water. The descent in energy levels of the electrons, from NADH and FADH2 to the production of water, helps establish a proton gradient across the membrane. This gradient is then utilized to synthesize ATP via chemiosmosis, demonstrating how the electron transport chain links to ATP production.