Anaerobic breakdown of glucose by yeast yields

  • A. lactic acid and a large quantity of ATP
  • B. ethanol and carbon dioxide
  • C. acetyl CoA and water
  • D. pyruvic acid and oxygen

Explanation

Yeast decarboxylates pyruvate to ethanal and then reduces it to ethanol, releasing carbon dioxide, which is the basis of both brewing and the rising of bread dough. Lactic acid is the anaerobic product in mammalian muscle instead, and no extra ATP is made in either case beyond the two from glycolysis. Oxygen is neither used nor produced.

Related questions