In respiration, the oxidation of a substrate molecule essentially means the

  • A. addition of hydrogen atoms to it
  • B. removal of oxygen from it
  • C. loss of electrons and hydrogen from it
  • D. gain of electrons by it

Explanation

Biological oxidation is the removal of hydrogen, whose electrons are passed to NAD or FAD, so dehydrogenation and oxidation are the same event. Adding hydrogen is reduction, the reverse reaction, which is what NADH does when it donates electrons later.

Related questions