What is the significance of organic compounds acting as electron acceptors in anaerobic processes?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the role and impact of organic compounds as electron acceptors in anaerobic processes, specifically their significance in facilitating anaerobic digestion and other related outcomes.
Answer
Organic compounds as electron acceptors help microbes generate energy anaerobically albeit less efficiently than aerobic processes.
The final answer is that the significance of organic compounds acting as electron acceptors in anaerobic processes is that they facilitate energy production by microbes under oxygen-limited conditions, although with less efficiency compared to aerobic respiration due to lower reduction potentials.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that the significance of organic compounds acting as electron acceptors in anaerobic processes is that they facilitate energy production by microbes under oxygen-limited conditions, although with less efficiency compared to aerobic respiration due to lower reduction potentials.
More Information
When organic compounds are used as electron acceptors in anaerobic processes, it allows for metabolic flexibility in organisms living in environments where oxygen is scarce, such as deep-sea or soil microorganisms.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the efficiency of energy production in aerobic vs anaerobic processes. Anaerobic processes yield less energy because of lower reduction potentials compared to oxygen.
Sources
- 7.04: Catabolism of Glucose (3)- In the Absence of Oxygen - bio.libretexts.org
- 5.9A: Electron Donors and Acceptors in Anaerobic Respiration - bio.libretexts.org
- Fermentation and anaerobic respiration | Cellular respiration (article) - khanacademy.org
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