Final answer:
Fermentation is the biochemical process where yeasts or some bacteria break down substances in the absence of oxygen, turning sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide. The balanced chemical reaction for the fermentation of glucose is: C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2. This process is used in making alcoholic beverages, bread, and biofuels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical breakdown of a substance by yeasts or some bacteria is known as fermentation. This process occurs in the absence of oxygen and involves the conversion of sugars such as glucose into ethanol and carbon dioxide. A common example is the fermentation of glucose by yeast, which the balanced chemical reaction can represent:
C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
Here, one molecule of glucose (C6H12O6) is converted into two molecules of ethanol (C2H5OH) and two molecules of carbon dioxide (CO2). This biochemical process has a variety of applications, including the production of alcoholic beverages like wine and beer, as well as causing bread to rise, with CO2 gas responsible for the fluffy texture of baked bread. Furthermore, alcoholic fermentation is also pertinent in the creation of biofuels.