Number of carbon atoms available in acetyl CoA is

Options

A. 6
B. 4
C. 3
D. 2

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Acetyl-CoA Formation**: Acetyl-CoA is formed from pyruvic acid (pyruvate) through a process known as oxidative decarboxylation.

2. **Chemical Structure of Pyruvic Acid**: The chemical formula for pyruvic acid is CH3COCOO. This indicates that pyruvic acid contains three carbon atoms in total.

3. **Decarboxylation Process**: During the conversion of pyruvic acid to acetyl-CoA, one carbon atom is released in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). This means that one of the carbon atoms from pyruvic acid is lost during the reaction.

4. **Counting Carbon Atoms in Acetyl-CoA**: After the decarboxylation, the remaining structure that forms acetyl-CoA retains two carbon atoms. The acetyl group (CH3CO) consists of two carbon atoms.

5. **Final Answer**: Therefore, the total number of carbon atoms available in acetyl-CoA is 2.

6. **Choosing the Correct Option**: Among the given options (6, 4, 3, 2), the correct answer is 2.

**Final Answer**: The number of carbon atoms available in acetyl-CoA is 2.

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