The two important events in the aerobic respiration are:
(i) The complete oxidation of pyruvate by the stepwise removal of all the hydrogen atoms with the release of three molecules of carbon dioxide of three molecules of carbon dioxide.
(ii) The passing on of the electrons removed as part of the hydrogen atoms to molecular O2 along with the synthesis of ATP.
The first step takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria while the second step occurs in the inner membrane of mitochondria.
