Hydrogens from reduced FAD and reduced NAD first
pass to hydrogen carriers in the inner membrane
and are then split are split into protons (H+)
and electrons (e-).
The electrons pass along a series of electron
carriers on the ETC of the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. Each of these
electron carriers is at a lower energy level than its predecessor. As the electrons
move along the chain, they lose energy. This energy is used to actively
transport H+ from the matrix of the mitochondrion, across the inner membrane
and into the space between the inner and outer membranes. This builds up a
high concentration of H+ in this space.
