Final answer:
Most ATP during glucose oxidation is produced via oxidative phosphorylation, a two-stage process involving the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis, occurring primarily in mitochondria and generating about 90 percent of the ATP in glucose catabolism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oxidative Phosphorylation and ATP Production
Most ATP generated by the complete oxidation of glucose results from the reactions of oxidative phosphorylation. This process involves two main stages: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. In eukaryotic cells, oxidative phosphorylation takes place in the mitochondria, where oxygen is used in the final reactions.
Through a series of redox reactions in the electron transport chain, energy is harnessed to pump protons across the mitochondrial membrane, creating a proton gradient. The flow of protons back into the mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase drives the production of ATP from ADP. Approximately 90 percent of the ATP produced during glucose catabolism is obtained through this complex mechanism, significantly more than what is generated from glycolysis or the citric acid cycle directly.