What gets oxidized during glycolysis?

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Jun 21, 2015

Glucose gets oxidized during glycolysis.

Explanation:

Glycolysis is a 10-step process in which 1 molecule of glucose is converted to 2 molecules of pyruvate.

#underbrace("C"_6"H"_12"O"_6)_color(red)("glucose") + "2NAD"^+ + "2HP"_i + "2ADP" → underbrace("2C"_3"H"_3"O"_3)_color(red)("pyruvate") + "2H"_2"O" + "2NADH" + "2H"^+ + "4ATP" #

The average oxidation number of C in glucose (#"C"_6"H"_12"O"_6#) is 0 and +1 in pyruvate (#"C"_3"H"_3"O"_3#), so glucose is oxidized.

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