alleryStart learning →What happens to the potential energy of a compound when an electron is removed from it?
AIts potential energy decreases
BIts potential energy increases
CIts potential energy is unchanged
DIts potential energy is doubled
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Its potential energy decreases
1. Removing an electron from a molecule is oxidation.
2. Oxidation results in a decrease in potential energy in the oxidized compound.
3. The electron is not lost to the cytoplasm, it moves onto a second compound whose potential energy rises instead.
4. So the oxidized partner falls in energy while the reduced partner gains it, which rules out an unchanged value.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Cellular Respiration", section 7.1 Energy in Living Systems_
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