Number of carbons in pyruvic acid is

Options

A. 6
B. 3
C. 2
D. 1

Answer

To determine the number of carbons in pyruvic acid, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Context of Glycolysis**:
- Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate. It occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and consists of a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

2. **Identify the Starting Molecule**:
- The primary substrate for glycolysis is glucose, which is a 6-carbon molecule (C6H12O6).

3. **Know the End Product of Glycolysis**:
- At the end of glycolysis, glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate (also known as pyruvic acid).

4. **Determine the Carbon Count in Pyruvate**:
- Each molecule of pyruvate contains 3 carbon atoms. Therefore, when one molecule of glucose is converted, it yields two molecules of pyruvate, each with 3 carbons.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since each pyruvate has 3 carbons, the number of carbons in pyruvic acid is 3.

### Final Answer:
The number of carbons in pyruvic acid is **3**.

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