Question

Oxidative phosphorylation occurs during the process of-
A. Protein synthesis
B. \[{N_2}\] fixation
C. Respiration
D. Transpiration.

Answer 1

Hint: The human body stores and uses energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which acts as the currency of energy. Most energy changes are associated with the rapid interconversion between adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate and the inorganic phosphorus (monophosphate groups) are either consumed or released in the process.

Complete answer:
Cellular respiration is a complex process that consists of a series of biochemical reactions. The process aims at extracting sufficient energy that can be supplied to the body to carry out all its biological activities efficiently.
Oxidative phosphorylation is a process that occurs in the inner membrane of mitochondria where energy is harnessed from embedded protein complexes called the electron transfer chain. The addition of inorganic phosphorus or monophosphate to adenosine diphosphate in order to form adenosine triphosphate is called oxidative phosphorylation. The reaction can be written as follows:
\[ADP + {P_i}\xrightarrow{{{\text{oxidative phosphorylation}}}}ATP\]
This process is exclusive to respiration as it aims at releasing energy. Other biological processes consume energy rather than acting as a source of it.

Hence, Oxidative phosphorylation occurs during the process of respiration and option (c) is correct.

Note:
Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of nitrogen gas present in the atmosphere into a form that can be easily assimilated by organic compounds and used for various purposes. This process does not involve the use of phosphorus at all and only deals with nitrogen in the gaseous phase and its different compounds like ammonia that can be used by plants and other organisms.