Final answer:
The oxidative stage of food molecule breakdown in eukaryotic cells, known as oxidative phosphorylation, takes place in the mitochondria. It follows glycolysis, which occurs in the cytoplasm and transforms glucose into pyruvate that is further processed in mitochondria.
Step-by-step explanation:
In eukaryotic cells, the oxidative (oxygen-dependent) stage of the breakdown of food molecules, also known as oxidative phosphorylation, occurs in the mitochondria. This complex process involves the generation of ATP through chemiosmosis. During glycolysis, which is the initial step of carbohydrate catabolism occurring in the cytoplasm and is anaerobic, glucose is broken down into pyruvate.
This pyruvate is then transported into the mitochondria, where it is transformed into acetyl CoA. The acetyl CoA then enters the Krebs cycle, leading to the production of electron carriers NADH and FADH2. These carriers deliver electrons to the electron transport chain located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, ultimately producing ATP and water as a result of reducing oxygen.