Alcohol Fermentation
Alcohol Fermentation is a chemical process used by yeast and other organisms. Similar to Lactic Acid Fermentation the molecules of NADH needs to be regenerated in order to allow Glycolysis to continue producing ATP. To do this a Carboxyl group is removed from the Pyruvate and is released as CO2. The remaining molecule called Acetaldehyde becomes the primary electron acceptor. After this molecule accepts the electron from NADH it becomes Ethanol
 
Fermentation
Links to Fermentation
Animations
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  2. •Animation 2
The Importance of Fermentation
Fermentation is an especially important process because it allows Glycolysis to function without the presence of oxygen. When there is no oxygen present the pyruvate is unable to enter the Mitochondria because the other two steps of Cellular Respiration must have oxygen in order to function. Through Fermentation the cell is able to allow Glycolysis to take place by changing the Pyruvate into different molecules and replenishing NADH. The replenishing of NADH allows Glycolysis to continue to function because it must have some place to put the electrons it produces.
Lactic Acid Fermentation
In Lactic Acid Fermentation Glycolysis occurs normally and produce two molecules of ATP. Glycolysis also produces two molecules of NADH and two molecule of of Pyruvate. Since the electrons cannot go into the the electron transport chain without oxygen NADH must be regenerated for this process to continue to produce energy. To allow the regeneration of NADH the Pyruvate is converted to Lactate and accepts the electrons from NADH.
Products of Lactic Acid Fermentation
  1. •2 ATP molecules
 
  1. •2 Lactate             Molecules
 
Products of Alcohol
Fermentation
  1. •2 ATP molecules
 
  1. •2 Ethanol Molecules
 
  1. •2 CO2 Molecules