Final answer:
In anaerobic cellular respiration, organisms use inorganic molecules other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor to produce ATP. Examples include methanogens using CO2 and sulfur bacteria using sulfate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process in which some organisms use inorganic molecules other than oxygen as the final electron acceptor is known as anaerobic cellular respiration. Unlike aerobic respiration, which relies on oxygen, anaerobic respiration enables organisms to produce ATP by using alternative inorganic compounds such as sulfur or CO2. For instance, methanogens, which are a group of Archaea, convert carbon dioxide into methane during this process, while sulfur bacteria utilize sulfate as the final electron acceptor, ultimately producing hydrogen sulfide.
Additionally, chemolithotrophs, which are certain microorganisms, also play a critical role in energy transformations and nutrient cycling by using inorganic compounds to fuel their metabolic processes. It's important to note that anaerobic respiration is a key component in various ecological systems, especially in environments where oxygen is scarce or absent, thus impacting the global carbon and nitrogen cycles.