The first stage of cellular respiration is glycolysis, which literally means “sugar splitting.” Look at the diagram.

The diagram shows two units of ATP breaking down a six-carbon sugar molecule. Then, 2 units of NAD+ are converted to 2 NADH and 4 ADPs are converted into 4 ATPs, and the carbon atoms, which now make up a new substance, move on to the Krebs cycle.

When glucose, a 6-carbon sugar, is broken down during glycolysis, what product forms?

A. 2 molecules of lactic acid, C3H6O3
B. 3 molecules of ethanol, C2H5OH
C. 2 molecules of pyruvic acid, C3H4O3
D. 6 molecules of carbon dioxide, CO2

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and is a pathway through which the glucose molecule breaks into two 3- carbon molecules. The released energy is used by the cells for the metabolic process.

The correct answer is:

Option C. 2 molecules of pyruvic acid, C₃H₄O₃

The explanation for this is:

Glycolysis occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell either in the presence or the absence of oxygen. It is the main and primary step for cellular respiration.

The reactants is the glucose molecule while the products formed are pyruvic acid (pyruvate), ATP and NADH.

In glycolysis, glucose gets phosphorylated and gets converted from a 6- carbon molecule to a 3- carbon molecule.

At the end of the reaction a 3- carbon containing molecule pyruvic acid, C₃H₄O₃ is formed.

The pyruvic formed in glycolysis gets converted into acetyl CoA which is the precursor of the Krebs cycle.

Therefore, 1 glucose molecule during glycolysis gives 2 molecules of pyruvic acid.

To learn more about glycolysis refer to the link below:

https://brainly.com/question/10886602