What are the primary products of glycolysis?

The primary products of glycolysis include 2 pyruvate, 2 ATP, and 2 NADH, making this the correct answer. During the glycolytic pathway, one molecule of glucose is broken down into two molecules of pyruvate through a series of enzymatic reactions. This process occurs in the cytoplasm and is anaerobic, meaning it does not require oxygen.

Throughout glycolysis, energy is harnessed in the form of ATP. While 4 ATP molecules are produced through substrate-level phosphorylation, 2 of them are consumed in the initial steps of glycolysis, resulting in a net gain of 2 ATP. Additionally, NAD+ is reduced to form NADH, which serves as an electron carrier in later cellular respiration processes.

Other options encompass different combinations of molecules that do not accurately represent the products of glycolysis. For example, including FADH2 (which is produced in the citric acid cycle, not glycolysis) or CO2, which is not released until later stages of cellular respiration, indicates a misunderstanding of where and when these products are generated. The focus on pyruvate, ATP, and NADH in the correct choice accurately reflects the fundamental outcomes of the glycolytic process.