what is the role of oxygen in aerobic respiration

Hello Shackles

The role of oxygen in aerobic respiration is to be an electron
acceptor.  Further information about its role can be gathered from the
following webpages but if you require any more information on this
subject please ask for clarification and I will do all I can to help.

http://staff.jccc.net/pdecell/cellresp/respintro.html
"As the energy rich electrons from food are used to make ATP by
electron transport phosphorylation they lose energy and once they are
no longer useful they have to be removed. Oxygen is a great electron
acceptor and so the electrons are combined with hydrogen ions and
oxygen to make water. This prevents electrons from building up in the
electron transport system."
 
http://www.towson.edu/~wubah/mycology/Metabolism_class.htm
"What is the role of oxygen in aerobic respiration?  As terminal
electron acceptor."

http://methanogens.pdx.edu/boone/courses/BI336/BI336Lectures/200201/BI336Lec11.html
"Aerobic heterotrophs use O2 as a terminal electron acceptor for respiration."

http://tidepool.st.usm.edu/crswr/110respiration.html
"If oxygen is available to support aerobic respiration, reactions
occur subsequent to glycolysis within the mitochondrion (especially
associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane)."