If a cell produces 40 molecules of NADH + H ^+ exclusively through the glycolytic pathway starting from glucose, how many molecules of ATP were utilised during this process?

Step-by-step solution

In glycolysis, the breakdown of one molecule of glucose produces two molecules of NADH + H ^+ . If 40 molecules of NADH + H ^+ are produced, the number of glucose molecules that underwent glycolysis is 40 / 2 = 20 . During glycolysis of one glucose molecule, ATP is utilised at two steps (conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate), meaning 2 ATP molecules are consumed per glucose. Therefore, for 20 glucose molecules, the total number of ATP molecules utilised