Final answer:
The F pump, also known as ATP synthase, generates ATP using a proton gradient across membranes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pump that generates ATP from ADP and Pi using proton gradients across membranes is known as the F pump, also referred to as ATP synthase.
This complex, molecular machine uses a proton (H+) gradient—referred to as a proton-motive force, which is created by the electron transport chain—to synthesize ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi).
ATP synthase operates under the principles of active transport, where the enzyme needs energy to move substances. In this case, the energy comes from the proton gradient that was established by the electron transport chain across the mitochondrial membrane, not directly from ATP itself. This biological process is a fundamental component of cellular respiration and energy production in living organisms.