which molecule is oxidized during aerobic respiration?

The molecule that is oxidized during aerobic respiration is glucose. In aerobic respiration, glucose (C6H12O6) undergoes oxidation, where it loses electrons and is converted into carbon dioxide (CO2). This oxidation process releases energy that is used to produce ATP. During this process, electrons from glucose are transferred to electron carriers like NAD+ and FAD, forming NADH and FADH2, which then donate electrons to the electron transport chain where oxygen acts as the final electron acceptor and is reduced to water. More specifically, glucose is oxidized during glycolysis to pyruvate, then pyruvate is further oxidized to acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle) where complete oxidation to CO2 occurs. NADH and FADH2 generated transfer electrons to oxygen in the electron transport chain, driving ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation.