The products of fermentation of sugar are

Analyze the question: It asks for the products formed when sugar undergoes fermentation.

Explain the concept: Fermentation is the breakdown of sugars by enzymes in yeast (zymase) under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). The glucose is converted to ethanol (an alcohol) and carbon(IV) oxide gas. This is how palm wine, pito, burukutu, and bread dough rise.

Show the solution:

The sugar is first broken down into glucose (and fructose):

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ + H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + C₆H₁₂O₆ (invertase)

Then zymase acts on glucose:

C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂ (zymase)

Products: ethanol (C₂H₅OH) and carbon(IV) oxide (CO₂).

Checking the options:

• A. CO₂ and water: these are products of respiration or combustion, not fermentation.
• B. Ethanol and CO₂: matches the equation. ✔
• C. Ethanol and water: water is not a main product, and CO₂ is missing.
• D. Ethanol and enzymes: enzymes are catalysts, so they are not used up or produced as a product.

Tip: Remember "Fermentation = Ethanol + CO₂". The bubbles you see in fermenting palm wine or rising dough are CO₂. Do not confuse it with respiration, which gives CO₂ and water.