What Is Glycolysis

Show that the conversion of glucose to two molecules of pyruvate is an oxidation. (H/nt That it is an oxidation is easiest to see if you take the product to be pyruvic acid recognize, of course, that, under the pH conditions at which this reaction takes place in cells, pyruvic acid is ionized to pyruvate.) 

Glucose is CgHiaOe Two molecules of pyruvic acid are 2(C3H403) = CeHgOe.The number of O atoms remains the same in this conversion but four H are lost.Therefore, the conversion of glucose to pyruvate is an oxidation. 

Under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions, glucose is converted to lactate by a metabolic pathway called anaerobic glycolysis or, alternatively, lactate fermentation  

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