What is the total number of pyruvic acid molecules formed from the complete glycolysis of 15 molecules of sucrose?

Step-by-step solution

Sucrose is a disaccharide that is converted by the enzyme invertase into two monosaccharides: one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose. Both of these hexose sugars readily enter the glycolytic pathway. The glycolysis of one hexose molecule produces 2 molecules of pyruvic acid. Thus, one molecule of sucrose yields 2 hexoses, which in turn produce 4 molecules of pyruvic acid ( 2 2 = 4 ). For 15 molecules of sucrose, the total number of pyruvic acid molecules produced is 15 4 = 60 . Answer: 60