Final answer:
The byproducts of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O), with ATP being the main energy transfer molecule produced in the process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The byproducts of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O). The citric acid cycle produces NADH and FADH2, which donate electrons to the electron transport chain. This process pumps protons across the mitochondrial membrane, producing a gradient that drives the synthesis of ATP through chemiosmosis. Hence, oxidative phosphorylation yields ATP, and as electrons reach the end of the electron transport chain, they are transferred to molecular oxygen, which also results in the production of water.