Final answer:
Yeast produces ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and carbon dioxide gas during alcoholic fermentation. This process is used in various applications, including baking bread, brewing beer, and making wine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yeast produces ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and carbon dioxide gas during fermentation. This process, known as alcoholic fermentation, occurs in the absence of oxygen. Yeast uses glucose as a starting material and converts it into ethanol and carbon dioxide through a series of reactions.
During alcoholic fermentation, pyruvic acid, which is produced through glycolysis, is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The reaction involves the conversion of pyruvic acid into acetaldehyde and then to ethanol by the enzymes pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase, respectively. In the process, NADH is oxidized to NAD+, which is necessary for glycolysis to continue producing ATP.
Alcoholic fermentation is used in various applications, including baking bread, brewing beer, and making wine. Yeast in bread dough uses alcoholic fermentation to produce carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise and creates a light and fluffy texture in the bread. Similarly, in beer and wine production, yeast converts the sugars present in grains or fruits into alcohol and carbon dioxide, resulting in the desired products.