Question

How is glucose changed during glycolysis? What products are produced as a result of glycolysis?

a) Glucose is converted into water, and oxygen is released.
b) Glucose is converted into carbon dioxide, and ATP is produced.
c) Glucose is converted into pyruvate, and ATP and NADH are produced.
d) Glucose is converted into glucose-6-phosphate, and carbon dioxide is released.

Answer 1

Glycolysis transforms glucose into pyruvate, with a net gain of two ATP molecules and the production of two NADH molecules.

Step-by-step explanation:

During glycolysis, glucose is converted into pyruvate, and in the process, ATP and NADH are produced. Initially, two ATP molecules are used to energize the separation of the six-carbon glucose molecule into two three-carbon molecules. As the process continues, energy is released and four ATP molecules are created, resulting in a net gain of two ATP molecules because of the initial two ATP molecules invested at the start. Additionally, high-energy electrons are transferred to NAD+ to form two molecules of NADH. These products are then used in later stages of cellular respiration to generate further energy.