Question

How many CO2 molecules are produced during glycolysis, acetyl-CoA transformation reactions, and the Krebs cycle per molecule of glucose?

Why is this number significant?

Where does the CO2 go?

Answer 1

during glycolysis the carbon dioxide molecules are not produced, 6 carbon atoms in the glucose move to 2 molecules of pyruvate, which then pyruvate dehydrogenase converts pyruvate to acetyl CoA, during this process one carbon dioxide is released, so when 2 pyruvate molecules from a glucose is oxidized to acetyl CoA 2 molecules of carbon dioxide is lost. acetyl CoA enters the TCA cycle and 2 Carbon dioxides are lost during this process when both acetyl CoA from a glucose molecule undergoes TCA cycle 4 carbon dioxide is released. so from a glucose molecule, 6 CO2 molecules are released, so the number of carbon dioxide lost is equal to the number of carbon dioxide molecules released.

the CO2 molecules produced in the cell are carried by the hemoglobin in the blood to the lungs then it is released into the atmosphere.