Question

Radioactive isotopes of carbon can be used to track intermediates during metabolism. An organic chemist synthesized D-glucose where all carbons were 12C except carbon #4 which was 14C. Note that 12C and 14C have identical electronic (bonding) properties. This synthesized glucose was fed to a bacterial culture performing lactate fermentation. Which terminal product will contain the 14C isotope? Show your work.

Answer 1