Final answer:
The statement is fasle. The pH in the mitochondrial matrix is higher, not lower, than the pH in the intermembrane space due to the action of the electron transport chain and the subsequent creation of an electrochemical gradient.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pH in the mitochondrial matrix is actually higher than the pH in the intermembrane space. This is because the electron transport chain, which is located on the inner mitochondrial membrane, actively pumps hydrogen ions (H+) from the matrix across the membrane into the intermembrane space. This process creates an electrochemical gradient, which is part of the chemiosmotic hypothesis. As a result, the intermembrane space becomes acidic due to the high concentration of hydrogen ions, while the matrix becomes more basic (alkaline). The ATP synthase then uses this gradient to produce ATP by allowing hydrogen ions to flow back into the matrix, transforming the potential energy of the electrochemical gradient into chemical energy in the form of ATP. Consequently, the correct answer is False; the pH in the mitochondrial matrix is not lower than the pH in the intermembrane space.