Narsil86 t1_iugc3pp wrote on October 31, 2022 at 2:39 AM

I'll try my best to make this as straightforward as possible.

In each cell in your body, Oxygen comes in in the form of 2 oxygen's doubly bonded, the 2 oxygen atoms are split apart, and combined with a carbon atom bonded to hydrogens. This results in a free hydrogen, which is pushed through some protein machinery to force a phosphate group onto adinosine diphosphate, creating adisonine triphosphate, otherwise known at ATP. ATP is the source of energy in the body, used for everything from moving your muscles to digesting food. The resulting CO2 molecule is expelled through your lungs.

This is why we breathe in oxygen, eat carbon based foods, and breathe out CO2. It's all about creating ATP, which is the source of energy for all biological processes.

Edit: other organisms make ATP differently, using light or non-carbon based processes. This is just what humans and other animals do.

Source: Took organic chemistry and biochemistry in college and I at least remember this intersting chemical process.

The_RealKeyserSoze t1_iugpzap wrote on October 31, 2022 at 4:53 AM

The oxygen is converted to H2O not CO2 in aerobic respiration. The CO2 comes from the pyruvate/food.

Majestic_Ferrett t1_iugfb55 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:05 AM

>This results in a free hydrogen, which is pushed through some protein machinery to force a phosphate group onto adinosine diphosphate, creating adisonine triphosphate, otherwise known at ATP.

Ah the electron transport chain. It also binds leftover hydrogen atoms to oxygen make water as well right?

Narsil86 t1_iuggkt3 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:16 AM

Oh snap I forgot the water. Yes the electron transport chain!

Majestic_Ferrett t1_iugi221 wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:29 AM

I just had massive flashbacks to high school ~~chemistry~~ biology

PassionateLifeLiver t1_iugir2h wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:36 AM

How do you know this

Narsil86 t1_iugjbho wrote on October 31, 2022 at 3:41 AM

Biochemistry and organic chemistry in college! I don't practice chemistry in my job, but I remember enough to text basic concepts. I figured I could give a high level explanation here.

Eulers_ID t1_iugruwk wrote on October 31, 2022 at 5:16 AM

They covered it in General Biology 1 at my college (the BIO101 course). The book even had cool pictures of the main protein involved in ATP synthesis, which spins around like a little motor or generator.

Check it out