Through a series if small steps, free energy is released from sugar and stored in carrier molecules in the cell (ATP and NADH ... very inefficient, as it does not harness energy for later use.

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the energy-carrying molecule used in cells because it can release energy very quickly. Energy is released from ATP when the end phosphate is removed. Once ATP has ...

The energy released pumps hydrogen out of the matrix space. The gradient created by this drives hydrogen back through the membrane, through ATP synthase. As this happens, the enzymatic activity of ...