Oxidative phosphorylation primarily takes place in the inner mitochondrial matrix (option c). This process is a crucial part of cellular respiration and involves the generation of ATP through the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis.
To explain further, the inner mitochondrial membrane contains proteins that participate in the electron transport chain. As electrons are transferred through these proteins, protons are pumped from the mitochondrial matrix into the intermembrane space, creating a proton gradient. The flow of protons back into the matrix through ATP synthase drives the production of ATP.
In contrast, the cytoplasm (option a) is involved in glycolysis, the mitochondrial matrix (option b) houses the citric acid cycle, the outer mitochondrial matrix (option d) is more of a structural component, and the stroma (option e) is related to chloroplasts in plant cells, not mitochondria.