Process that breaks down glucose to create two molecules of pyruvic acid (pyruvate)

Glycolysis is the process thet breaks down glucose to create two molecules of pyruvic acid. It is the ten steps process in which glucose is break down into pyruvate. Glycolysis occur in the cytoplasm. There is net gain of 2 ATP in the process of glycolysis. Pyruvic acid is the simplest of the alpha - keto acids.

During glycolysis, glucose is broken down in ten steps to two molecules of pyruvate, which then enters the mitochondria where it is oxidized through the tricarboxylic acid cycle to carbon dioxide and water. Glycolysis can be split into two phases, both of which occur in the cytology.