How many Carbon atoms are present in a Pyruvate molecule ?

Pyruvate, also known as 2-oxopropanoic acid, is a critical three-carbon molecule in cellular metabolism. Its chemical formula is C3H3O3- in its ionized state and C3H4O3 in its neutral form (pyruvic acid). The structure consists of a three-carbon backbone: a methyl group (CH3) on the third carbon, a ketone group (C=O) on the second carbon, and a carboxylic acid group (COOH) on the first carbon. It is the final product of glycolysis, where a six-carbon glucose molecule is broken down into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules. Under aerobic conditions, it is converted to acetyl-CoA to enter the Krebs cycle, while under anaerobic conditions, it can be reduced to lactate or ethanol. Its IUPAC name, alpha-keto propanoic acid, further confirms its three-carbon nature as 'propanoic' refers to a three-carbon chain.

Sources

1. [1] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Pyruvate