Question

What is needed for alcoholic fermentation?

Answer 1

Alcoholic fermentation:

1. Alcoholic fermentation is also known as ethanol fermentation.
2. In this process, yeast or anaerobic organisms convert sugars like glucose, sucrose, and fructose into energy derivatives i.e. ATP.
3. It produces byproducts such as ethanol and CO₂.
4. The first process of alcoholic fermentation is glycolysis.
5. Glycolysis of a glucose molecule produces two molecules of pyruvate.
6. After glycolysis, the pyruvate is reduced to acetaldehyde, and then it converts into two molecules of ethanol and CO₂.

Chemical reaction of alcoholic fermentation:

${\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_{12}{{\mathrm{O}}_6}_{\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}\to 2{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_5{\mathrm{OH}}_{\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)}{+}_{}2{{\mathrm{CO}}_2}_{\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Requirements for alcoholic fermentation:

1. Pyruvate dehydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase are two enzymes that are required for alcoholic fermentation.
2. An anaerobic environment is essential for fermentation to take place.