Final answer:
The oxidation of ethanol first produces acetaldehyde, which is then metabolized to acetate and finally to acetyl CoA in the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy is produced by the oxidation of alcohol (ethanol) into acetaldehyde. Ethanol, when oxidized, first forms acetaldehyde, which can further be oxidized to acetic acid. However, within the body and specifically in the liver, ethanol is primarily converted to acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Subsequently, acetaldehyde is further metabolized to acetate, which finally converts to acetyl CoA; this compound can enter the citric acid cycle to produce energy in the form of ATP or be used for the synthesis of other biological molecules.
The oxidation of primary alcohols like ethanol typically results in the formation of aldehydes, such as ethanal (acetaldehyde), and can proceed further to produce carboxylic acids, such as ethanoic (acetic) acid. In the context of biological systems, acetaldehyde produced during ethanol oxidation is further converted to acetate, which is then converted to acetyl CoA.