Final answer:
The process that splits water into oxygen, hydrogen, and electrons is Photosynthesis, not cellular respiration processes like glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process that splits water into ½ O2 (oxygen), H2 (hydrogen), and e- (electrons) is Photosynthesis. This occurs during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, where sunlight is used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. In contrast, cellular respiration, including glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, does not split water but instead uses oxygen to help convert glucose into ATP, water, and carbon dioxide.
Glycolysis is the first stage of cellular respiration, where a glucose molecule is split into two 3-carbon pyruvate molecules. Glycolysis happens in the cytoplasm and is followed by the Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Oxidative phosphorylation, part of cellular respiration, involves the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis to produce ATP and occurs in mitochondria.