The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy take place in:
Mitochondria
The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy take place in the mitochondria. Glucose is broken down into pyruvate and energy is released in the form of ATP in the cytoplasm. Pyruvate is taken into mitochondria and then enters Krebs cycle where it is broken down into carbon dioxide and water, yielding ATP and other by-products which then enter electron transport chain to give rise to more ATPs.