Glycolysis is the initial process of breaking down glucose to extract energy. For one molecule of glucose, glycolysis results in the production of:
- 2 molecules of pyruvate
- 2 molecules of ATP
- 2 molecules of NADH
This is because during glycolysis, glucose (a 6-carbon sugar) is converted into two 3-carbon molecules called pyruvate. Along the way, a small amount of energy is produced, resulting in the formation of ATP and NADH. It does not produce carbon dioxide; that occurs later during the Krebs cycle when pyruvate is further processed. Therefore, the correct answer is option C: 2 molecules of pyruvate, 2 molecules of ATP, and 2 molecules of NADH.