Question

Molecular oxygen can form superoxide radicals and other harmful oxygen-containing molecules that damage nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Therefore, which of the following choices would best explain the benefit to microbes that grow in the presence of oxygen? Choose one: A. It can be incorporated into carbohydrates like glucose to provide more energy by burning it, like with a piece of wood. B. It can be used to oxidize fatty acids in order to provide more unsaturated fats in phospholipids to help with extra membrane transport. C. There is no benefit. Microbes exposed to oxygen just need to find ways to make it less harmful, although it does allow them to grow where other (anaerobic) microbes cannot survive. D. It can be used to make hydrogen peroxide, which is used by some microbes to kill other microbes. E. It serves as the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, providing more energy in the cell.

Answer 1

Answer: E. It serves as the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, providing more energy in the cell.

Explanation: Molecular oxygen are very essential to life for breathing, combustion and other things. They are diatomic as they contain two atoms of oxygen. They are also very reactive as the combine with other elements easily,forming super oxides which can damage lipids and protein.

However, oxygen provides necessary energy required by a cell in an aerobic environment as it acts as the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration