What is the word equation for ethanol production through fermentation?

What is the word equation for ethanol production through fermentation?

• A. Glucose yields ethanol and carbon dioxide
• B. Ethanol yields glucose and carbon dioxide
• C. Carbon dioxide yields glucose and ethanol
• D. Glucose yields water and carbon dioxide

Answer: (A)

Fermentation is an anaerobic process in which yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The word equation for this is glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide. This wording correctly shows the reactant (glucose) and the products (ethanol and carbon dioxide) formed under lack of oxygen. The other options would imply the wrong direction or a different process: ethanol producing glucose would be the reverse, carbon dioxide producing glucose and ethanol would treat CO2 as a starting material, and glucose producing water and carbon dioxide describes respiration or combustion, which requires oxygen and yields water instead. In reality, the stoichiometric form is C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2, but the simple word equation above captures the essential idea.

Fermentation is an anaerobic process in which yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The word equation for this is glucose → ethanol + carbon dioxide. This wording correctly shows the reactant (glucose) and the products (ethanol and carbon dioxide) formed under lack of oxygen. The other options would imply the wrong direction or a different process: ethanol producing glucose would be the reverse, carbon dioxide producing glucose and ethanol would treat CO2 as a starting material, and glucose producing water and carbon dioxide describes respiration or combustion, which requires oxygen and yields water instead. In reality, the stoichiometric form is C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2, but the simple word equation above captures the essential idea.