Microbiology Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a type of fermentation?

1. Homolactic

2. Alcohol

3. Ethanol

4. Carbonic

The correct answer is: Carbonic

The choice identifying "carbonic" as not being a type of fermentation is correct because carbonic acid is typically associated with the process of carbonation in beverages and not categorized as a fermentation type. Fermentation broadly refers to metabolic processes that convert sugars into acids, gases, or alcohol, typically carried out by microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria. In contrast, homolactic fermentation involves the conversion of sugars primarily into lactic acid, which is a common process in some bacteria and in muscle cells during anaerobic respiration. Alcohol fermentation, often performed by yeast, converts sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide, which is essential in the production of alcoholic beverages. Ethanol, while it can be commonly discussed in the context of alcohol fermentation, also signifies the end product of this fermentation process. Therefore, homolactic, alcohol, and ethanol are all recognized fermentation types, making "carbonic" the outlier in this context.