Final answer:
In the final thiolytic cleavage of β-oxidation, two acetyl-CoA molecules are produced, which can enter the citric acid cycle.
Step-by-step explanation:
In β-oxidation, the final thiolytic cleavage of a fatty acid chain produces two acetyl-CoA molecules. This occurs because during the final round of β-oxidation, the remaining short acyl-CoA chain, which is precisely the length of two acetyl-CoA molecules, is split into two, thus yielding two acetyl-CoA molecules that can then enter the citric acid cycle for further energy production. If the fatty acid initially contains an even number of carbon atoms, the process of β-oxidation will continue to cleave two carbon units in the form of acetyl-CoA until the entire chain is converted into acetyl-CoA molecules.