Final answer:
In glycolysis, glucose is phosphorylated and then split into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules without the splitting of C-C bonds. This process occurs in the cytoplasm and is a stage of cellular respiration that happens with or without oxygen, resulting in a net gain of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of glycolysis, a molecule of glucose is split into two molecules of pyruvate, also known as pyruvic acid. Prior to the splitting, glucose undergoes phosphorylation which consumes 2 ATP, setting the stage for the glucose molecule to be cleaved into two three-carbon molecules, each one becoming glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. These are then converted to pyruvate through additional steps that result in the production of a net 2 ATP molecules and 2 NADH for the cell. Importantly, during glycolysis, there is no splitting of C-C bonds as the six-carbon ring of glucose is divided evenly into two three-carbon molecules without breaking any carbon-carbon bonds.
Mainly, the steps involved in glycolysis include the use of enzymes to prepare and convert the six-carbon glucose into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules. The process is part of the first stage of cellular respiration, and it can occur in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm and offers a net energy yield for the cell.