The most important purpose of the electron transport chain is to complete the production of ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. This is what it looks like:

 

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It is quite a complicated molecule, to say the least. But it can be broken down into three main parts. From left to right, the picture depicts three phosphate groups, a five carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

 

The purpose of ATP is to power the cell. When digesting food, organic molecules such as carbohydrates and fats are broken down into ATP. Not only does this allow humans to move and perform daily tasks, but is also serves to “drive metabolic reactions that would not happen automatically; to transport needed substances across membranes; and to do mechanical work” (Britannica).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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But the breakdown of organic molecules is not the only way that ATP is produced. Oxidative phosphorylation is responsible for synthesizing much of the ATP that is used to power our cells. Go to “the process” to learn about how it is made!

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