What is the end product of glycolysis?

The end product of glycolysis is pyruvic acid, which is produced through a series of enzymatic reactions that break down glucose. During glycolysis, one molecule of glucose (which is a six-carbon sugar) is converted into two molecules of pyruvate (or pyruvic acid), which are three-carbon compounds. This process occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and involves the investment of energy and the production of a net gain of ATP, as well as NADH.

Glycolysis itself consists of ten steps, where glucose is first phosphorylated and then ultimately split into two molecules of pyruvate. The conversion of glucose to pyruvic acid is a crucial step in cellular respiration that can proceed to either aerobic respiration or fermentation, depending on the presence of oxygen.

This understanding connects well to the other options provided. Glucose is the starting substrate rather than a product, ATP is produced during glycolysis but is not the final product, and oxaloacetate is a different compound involved in the Krebs cycle, not a product of glycolysis. Hence, pyruvic acid stands out as the correct answer as the terminal product of this metabolic pathway.