Question

glucose consists of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms. what happens to these atoms during glycolysis?
a) all atoms are transformed into other atoms in a series of chemical reactions
b) the atoms are converted into other molecules in a series of chemical reactions
c) the atoms are transformed into energy
d) nothing, glycolysis does not affect the glucose molecule

Explanation:

• Option a is incorrect because atoms are not transformed into other atoms in chemical reactions (this would be nuclear change, not chemical).
• Option c is incorrect because atoms cannot be converted into energy in glycolysis; energy is released from chemical bonds, not from atom-to-energy conversion.
• Option d is incorrect because glycolysis breaks down glucose into pyruvate, so it does affect the glucose molecule.
• Option b is correct: Glycolysis is a series of chemical reactions where the carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms of glucose are rearranged and combined into new molecules (pyruvate, along with ATP and NADH as energy carriers).

Answer:

b) The atoms are converted into other molecules in a series of chemical reactions