4. The inner membrane of the mitochondria is impermeable to ions. How does this fit with what you've learned about membrane structure? Why is this important to cellular respiration?

The inner mitochondrial membrane contains proteins involved in the electron transport chain. This chain releases energy that is then used to generate an electrochemical gradient, which is subsequently used to synthesize ATP

Explanation:

Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles that have an inner membrane separated from an outer membrane by the intermembrane space. Moreover, the mitochondrial matrix is located within the inner membrane. The inner mitochondrial membrane contains proteins involved in the electron transport chain and ATP synthesis. Oxidative phosphorylation (electron transport chain) is the third stage of cellular respiration in aerobic organisms in which ATP is generated by transferring electrons from NADH or FADH2 to O2 by a series of electron carriers located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The trans-membrane complexes of electron carriers are multiprotein enzyme complexes (I–V) and electron carriers (i.e., coenzyme Q10 and cytochrome c) required for the communication between complexes. The electron transport chain is coupled to proton transfer from the matrix out to the intermembrane space, thereby generating a proton gradient which is then used by ATP synthases to synthesize ATP​.