The conversion of pyruvic acid into lactic acid or ethanol in anaerobic respiration takes place in which organelle?

Options

A. Mitochondria
B. Cytoplasm
C. Chlorophyll
D. Thylakoids

Explanation

To answer the question regarding the organelle where the conversion of pyruvic acid into lactic acid or ethanol occurs during anaerobic respiration, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand Anaerobic Respiration**:
- Anaerobic respiration occurs in the absence of oxygen. It is a process that allows cells to generate energy without using oxygen.

2. **Identify the Starting Material**:
- The process begins with pyruvic acid, which is produced during glycolysis (the breakdown of glucose).

3. **Know the End Products**:
- In anaerobic conditions, pyruvic acid can be converted into either lactic acid (in animals) or ethanol (in yeast and some plants).

4. **Locate the Site of the Reaction**:
- The conversion of pyruvic acid into lactic acid or ethanol occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell.

5. **Differentiate Between Organelles**:
- Mitochondria are involved in aerobic respiration, particularly in the Krebs cycle, and are not the site for anaerobic processes.
- The cytoplasm is where glycolysis occurs, and it is also where anaerobic reactions take place.

6. **Conclude**:
- Therefore, the correct organelle where the conversion of pyruvic acid into lactic acid or ethanol takes place during anaerobic respiration is the **cytoplasm**.

### Final Answer:
The conversion of pyruvic acid into lactic acid or ethanol in anaerobic respiration takes place in the **cytoplasm**.

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