Why does hydrogen bond so tightly to oxygen during cellular respiration?(1 point)
Responses
It is electronegative, but oxygen is not.
It is electronegative, but oxygen is not.
It is less electronegative than oxygen.
It is less electronegative than oxygen.
It is more electronegative than oxygen.
It is more electronegative than oxygen.
It is not electronegative, but oxygen is.
It is more electronegative than oxygen.
It is more electronegative than oxygen.
The correct answer is:
It is more electronegative than oxygen.
Explanation:
Hydrogen bonds form when a hydrogen atom, which is covalently bonded to another atom, is attracted to an electronegative atom nearby. In the case of cellular respiration, hydrogen bonds form between the hydrogen atoms of glucose or other fuel molecules, and the oxygen atoms in the final electron acceptor, typically oxygen (O2).
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract electron density towards itself. Hydrogen is less electronegative than oxygen, which means oxygen has a greater ability to attract the shared electrons in a covalent bond towards itself.
During cellular respiration, the hydrogen atoms in glucose are weakly attracted to the oxygen atom of the final electron acceptor, creating a hydrogen bond. Oxygen's higher electronegativity attracts the shared electrons more strongly, leading to a tighter bond between hydrogen and oxygen. This interaction allows for the efficient transfer of electrons during cellular respiration, contributing to the production of ATP, the cell's primary energy source.