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1. Question
Glycolysis is best described as what type of process?
CorrectExplanation – critical information to remember
Glycolysis requires the use of energy when the glucose molecule is broken into two pyruvates. The two steps in which ATP is used can be considered endergonic, however, overall glycolysis produces energy to be consumed by the cells. If energy is released, then the reaction is exergonic. The concentration terms, isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic refer to the relative concentrations of different environments and this is not related to cell thermodynamics or a cell’s use or production of energy.
Further Details – useful if you had trouble with the question
Q: Glycolysis is best described as what type of process?
A. Exergonic
An exergonic process is one that (overall) releases energy. Glycolysis is the metabolic breakdown of glucose accompanied by a release of energy used to power the cell, so the answer choice is correct. Glycolysis (the decomposition of a glucose molecule into pyruvate) takes place in the cytosol of the cell. The primary net products of glycolysis are 2 ATP molecules, 2 NADH molecules, and 2 molecules of pyruvate. The ATP molecules are used as energy in various cell processes, while the pyruvate molecules can either enter aerobic cellular respiration if O2 is present and usable by the organism, or go through fermentation if no O2 is present.B. Endergonic
An endergonic process is one that requires energy, whereas glycolysis is a metabolic process that releases energy; therefore the answer choice is incorrect. It is usually anabolism (the metabolic process of building up molecules from smaller units) that is endergonic. Knowing that glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose, and that the purpose of glycolysis is to make energy available for the cell to utilize, endergonic should be easily eliminated as an answer choice.C. Isotonic
An isotonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Isotonic can refer to the tonicity of solutions (a cell in an isotonic solution has a solute concentration equal to the surrounding solution) or muscle contractions (an isotonic contraction is one where the muscle shortens as it contracts, in contrast to an isometric contraction where the muscle contracts but does not shorten). Neither of these uses of isotonic is relevant to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.D. Hypertonic
A hypertonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Hypertonic refers to the tonicity of solutions (if a cell is in a hypertonic solution, the surrounding solution has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell). This does not pertain to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.E. Hypotonic
A hypotonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Hypotonic refers to the tonicity of solutions (if a cell is in a hypotonic solution, the surrounding solution has a lower solute concentration than the inside of the cell). This does not pertain to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.IncorrectExplanation – critical information to remember
Glycolysis requires the use of energy when the glucose molecule is broken into two pyruvates. The two steps in which ATP is used can be considered endergonic, however, overall glycolysis produces energy to be consumed by the cells. If energy is released, then the reaction is exergonic. The concentration terms, isotonic, hypertonic, and hypotonic refer to the relative concentrations of different environments and this is not related to cell thermodynamics or a cell’s use or production of energy.
Further Details – useful if you had trouble with the question
Q: Glycolysis is best described as what type of process?
A. Exergonic
An exergonic process is one that (overall) releases energy. Glycolysis is the metabolic breakdown of glucose accompanied by a release of energy used to power the cell, so the answer choice is correct. Glycolysis (the decomposition of a glucose molecule into pyruvate) takes place in the cytosol of the cell. The primary net products of glycolysis are 2 ATP molecules, 2 NADH molecules, and 2 molecules of pyruvate. The ATP molecules are used as energy in various cell processes, while the pyruvate molecules can either enter aerobic cellular respiration if O2 is present and usable by the organism, or go through fermentation if no O2 is present.B. Endergonic
An endergonic process is one that requires energy, whereas glycolysis is a metabolic process that releases energy; therefore the answer choice is incorrect. It is usually anabolism (the metabolic process of building up molecules from smaller units) that is endergonic. Knowing that glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose, and that the purpose of glycolysis is to make energy available for the cell to utilize, endergonic should be easily eliminated as an answer choice.C. Isotonic
An isotonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Isotonic can refer to the tonicity of solutions (a cell in an isotonic solution has a solute concentration equal to the surrounding solution) or muscle contractions (an isotonic contraction is one where the muscle shortens as it contracts, in contrast to an isometric contraction where the muscle contracts but does not shorten). Neither of these uses of isotonic is relevant to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.D. Hypertonic
A hypertonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Hypertonic refers to the tonicity of solutions (if a cell is in a hypertonic solution, the surrounding solution has a higher solute concentration than the inside of the cell). This does not pertain to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.E. Hypotonic
A hypotonic process does not exist – it is a meaningless answer choice here. Hypotonic refers to the tonicity of solutions (if a cell is in a hypotonic solution, the surrounding solution has a lower solute concentration than the inside of the cell). This does not pertain to glycolysis; therefore the answer choice is incorrect.