Question

In bacterial respiration, which of the following electron donor and acceptor pairs is most likely to be used to generate energy?

A) Glucose and oxygen
B) Glucose and nitrogen
C) Hydrogen sulfide and oxygen
D) Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide

Answer 1

In bacterial respiration, glucose and oxygen is the most likely electron donor-acceptor pair to generate energy. Oxygen serves as the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, enabling ATP production through the electron transport chain.

Step-by-step explanation:

In bacterial respiration, the most likely electron donor and acceptor pair used to generate energy is glucose and oxygen (A). This is because in aerobic respiration, oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor. This process occurs in the electron transport chain, where the oxygen is reduced to water (H₂O), a key step that enables ATP production. Bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Vibrio cholerae utilize cytochrome c oxidase for this purpose. Conversely, anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen, where other inorganic molecules, like sulfate or carbon dioxide, can serve as final electron acceptors, as seen in the metabolism of methanogens and sulfur bacteria, respectively.