How many ATP molecules can be produced through oxidative phosphorylation of `2 NADH_(2)" and "3 FADH_(2)`

Options

A. 15
B. 24
C. 6
D. 12

Answer

To determine how many ATP molecules can be produced through oxidative phosphorylation from 2 NADH and 3 FADH2, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the contribution of NADH and FADH2 to ATP production
- Each NADH molecule can produce 3 ATP molecules during oxidative phosphorylation.
- Each FADH2 molecule can produce 2 ATP molecules during oxidative phosphorylation.

### Step 2: Calculate ATP from NADH
- We have 2 NADH molecules.
- The ATP produced from 2 NADH is calculated as follows:
\[ \text{ATP from NADH} = 2 \text{ NADH} \times 3 \text{ ATP/NADH} = 6 \text{ ATP} \]

### Step 3: Calculate ATP from FADH2
- We have 3 FADH2 molecules.
- The ATP produced from 3 FADH2 is calculated as follows:
\[ \text{ATP from FADH2} = 3 \text{ FADH2} \times 2 \text{ ATP/FADH2} = 6 \text{ ATP} \]

### Step 4: Total ATP production
- Now, we can add the ATP produced from NADH and FADH2 together:
\[ \text{Total ATP} = \text{ATP from NADH} + \text{ATP from FADH2} = 6 \text{ ATP} + 6 \text{ ATP} = 12 \text{ ATP} \]

### Conclusion
- Therefore, the total number of ATP molecules produced through oxidative phosphorylation of 2 NADH and 3 FADH2 is **12 ATP**.