Glycolysis - reductive/oxidative?

[blackbird27]

Is glycolysis a reductive or oxidative process in its chemical essence? Would you mind explaining why?

[JackBean]

Is the glucose oxidized or reduced during glycolysis?

[jonmoulton]

"Is glycolysis a reductive or oxidative process...?" That's a tough question to answer when posed that way. Redox processes are both reductive and oxidative. The processes are linked; when you remove an electron it has to go somewhere. For every oxidation there is a reduction.

However, you can answer the question from the perspective of the carbon atoms of glucose. That's where Jack's hint comes in, and I'll repeat it with more words -- what is happening to the carbons OF GLUCOSE? Is electron density increased due to swapping for more electron-donating substituents (reduction), or is the electron density of those carbons decreased due to bonding to more electronegative substituents (oxidation)?