Final answer:
Glycolysis is the metabolic process that breaks down glucose to generate two pyruvate molecules, two ATP molecules, and two NADH molecules, with a net gain of two ATPs after an initial investment of two ATPs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of glycolysis is a sequence of reactions that metabolizes one molecule of glucose to produce energy. The overall result of glycolysis is the production of two pyruvate molecules, two ATP molecules, and two NADH molecules from the breakdown of a single six-carbon glucose molecule. Initially, glycolysis consumes two ATP molecules to initiate the process of breaking the glucose into two three-carbon compounds.
This phase is known as the investment phase. Subsequently, during the energy payoff phase, four ATP molecules are generated, resulting in a net gain of two ATP molecules considering the initial investment. The transfer of high-energy electrons occurs to make two molecules of NADH, which are used later in cellular respiration to produce more ATP.