What are the products of glycolysis per glucose?

• A. Net 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate.
• B. Net 4 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate.
• C. Net 2 ATP, 0 NADH, and 2 pyruvate.
• D. Net 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 lactate.

Answer: (A)

Glycolysis converts one glucose into two pyruvate molecules in the cytoplasm, with an energy accounting that yields a net gain of ATP and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). Two ATP are invested early to phosphorylate glucose, and four ATP are produced later, giving a net of two ATP per glucose. During the pathway, two NAD+ molecules are reduced to two NADH, so you gain two NADH per glucose. Since glucose (six carbons) is split into two three-carbon molecules that become pyruvate, you end up with two pyruvate per glucose. Lactate is produced only if pyruvate is reduced during anaerobic fermentation, not directly by glycolysis itself. Therefore, the products are net 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate.