Which statement about glycolysis is true?

Which statement about glycolysis is true?

• A. It occurs in the mitochondria.
• B. It produces 2 ATP net and 2 NADH.
• C. It consumes NADH.
• D. It requires oxygen.

Answer: (B)

Glycolysis is a cytosolic pathway that converts one glucose into two pyruvate molecules, yielding a net gain of two ATP and producing two NADH, all without needing oxygen. The process starts by spending two ATP to prime the glucose, but later steps pay off with four ATP, giving a net +2 ATP per glucose. At the same time, NAD+ is reduced to NADH in the oxidation steps, producing two NADH per glucose. Because this all happens in the cytosol and does not require oxygen, the statement that glycolysis produces 2 ATP net and 2 NADH is the correct description. The other statements misstate where glycolysis occurs, whether it uses NADH, or whether it requires oxygen.

Glycolysis is a cytosolic pathway that converts one glucose into two pyruvate molecules, yielding a net gain of two ATP and producing two NADH, all without needing oxygen. The process starts by spending two ATP to prime the glucose, but later steps pay off with four ATP, giving a net +2 ATP per glucose. At the same time, NAD+ is reduced to NADH in the oxidation steps, producing two NADH per glucose. Because this all happens in the cytosol and does not require oxygen, the statement that glycolysis produces 2 ATP net and 2 NADH is the correct description. The other statements misstate where glycolysis occurs, whether it uses NADH, or whether it requires oxygen.