25. Which of the following statements about the electron transport chain and the chemiosmotic theory is false?
a. Electron transfer in mitochondria is accompanied by a release of free energy that is
used by complex I, III and IV to 'pump' protons from the intermembrane space to
the matrix.
b. Protons in the intermembrane space enter ATP synthase, and the energy of their
flow fuels ATP synthesis that occurs in the matrix
c. An electrochemical gradient exists between the matrix (i. e. higher pH, more
negatively charged) and intermembrane space (i. e. lower pH, more positively
charged)
d. The reduced coenzymes produced in the citric acid cycle (NADH and FADH2) are
oxidized in the electron transport chain, and their electrons are transferred to
oxygen
e. Oxygen has a very high affinity for electrons, so electrons on cytochrome (Cyt) c
are passed to oxygen in a reaction catalyzed by cytochrome oxidase (complex IV).
When oxygen accepts electrons and hydrogen, it becomes water