Question

The purpose of the fermentation process is the

A) regeneration of NAD+.
B) generation of additional energy in the form of ATP.
C) generation of additional reducing equivalents.
D) production of novel compounds, such as inorganic acids.
E) all of the above

Answer 1

The main purpose of fermentation is the regeneration of NAD+ to maintain glycolysis in the absence of oxygen. No additional ATP is produced by fermentation itself, though it does yield various by-products.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary purpose of the fermentation process is to regenerate NAD+ so that glycolysis can continue in the absence of oxygen. This is achieved by the reduction of pyruvate into lactate or by the conversion of other fermentation products. In this anaerobic process, an organic molecule serves as the final electron acceptor to convert NADH back into NAD+.

While the fermentation process does result in the production of various organic and inorganic compounds, such as lactic acid, ethanol, acetic acid, and CO2, these are by-products and not the primary goal of fermentation. As such, the correct answer to the student's question is A) regeneration of NAD+.