What Is the Chemical Equation for Glycolysis?

Hero Images/Hero Images/Getty Images

The simplified equation for glycolysis is: C6H12O6 + 2 NAD+ + 2 ADP + 2 P —–> 2 pyruvic acid, (CH3(C=O)COOH + 2 ATP + 2 NADH + 2 H+. Glycolysis is a series of biochemical reactions that break down a glucose molecule into two molecules of pyruvic acid.

Glycolysis consists of 10 different reactions, each catalyzed by a different enzyme. It is an important metabolic process, because it produces the compounds ATP and NADH, which are used to store energy in the body. Glycolysis is common to most life forms, including aerobic and anaerobic organisms, which shows that it is an ancient mechanism of metabolism.