Question

Biochemistry Question:
Explain why do electrons flow spontaneously from one carrier to the next in the electron transport chain?

Answer 1

Solution:

The electron transport chain is the final and most important stage of cellular respiration.The process involves stepwise movement of electrons from high energy state to lower energy state.The flow of electron from one carrier to another carrier is due to the difference in reduction potential. This difference in reduction potential causes decrease in free energy, hence process is spontaneous.

The decrease in free energy (-ΔG) is related with change in reduction potential (ΔE) as:

-ΔG = nFΔE

Since, ΔE = +ve

Therefore, ΔG = -ve (spontaneous).