What is the role of oxygen in the electron transport chain?

Step-by-step solution

Although the aerobic process of respiration takes place only in the presence of oxygen, the role of oxygen is limited to the terminal stage of the process. Yet, the presence of oxygen is vital, since it drives the whole process by removing hydrogen from the system. Oxygen acts as the final hydrogen acceptor. Unlike photophosphorylation where it is the light energy that is utilized for the production of proton gradient required for phosphorylation, in respiration it is the energy of oxidation-reduction utilized for