Question

Can glucose be broken down without oxygen?

Answer 1

Glucose:

1. Glucose is a six-carbon sugar and is the major substrate of glycolysis.
2. If oxygen is not present glucose is partially broken into pyruvate.
3. This process is called anaerobic respiration.
4. In the absence of oxygen, glucose is not completely oxidized into water and carbon-di-oxide.
5. If oxygen is completely absent, then fermentation occurs.
6. Anaerobic respiration has 2 conditions.
7. In the total absence of oxygen, ethanol, carbon-di-oxide -, and energy (2ATP) is released.
8. In the partial absence of oxygen, lactic acid, and energy (2ATP) are released.