Question

For two molecules of glucose, glycolysis uses and produces ATP molecules

• A. 4 and 8
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 2 and 8
• D. 2 and 2

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

4 and 8

The first step of glucose breakdown is glycolysis in which there is a net gain of 8 ATP ( 6 ATP from NADH${}_2$ and 2 ATP by direct conversion from ADP) from 1 molecule of glucose.

However, 2 ATP are consumed and 4 ATP are produced by direct conversion per molecule of glucose during glycolysis. Hence, for 2 molecules of glucose, 4 ATP and 8 ATP are used and produced respectively in total.

So the answer is '4 and 8'.