What is produced as a waste product during alcoholic fermentation?

During alcoholic fermentation, the primary waste products are carbon dioxide and ethanol. Microorganisms such as yeast convert sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide in anaerobic conditions. The process involves glycolysis, where glucose is broken down into pyruvate, which is then converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide.

In this context, carbon dioxide is the gas that is released as a byproduct, which is why it is the correct answer. This release of carbon dioxide is what causes the bubbling in fermentation, such as in the making of beer and bread. Ethanol, while produced, is not listed as an option among the choices provided. The other options, such as lactic acid and acetic acid, are produced in different types of fermentation—lactic acid in lactic acid fermentation and acetic acid during the oxidation of ethanol but not during alcoholic fermentation specifically. Oxygen, on the other hand, is not produced during alcoholic fermentation; in fact, the process occurs in the absence of oxygen.