Glycolysis question, what happens to the H+ ion when NAD+ +2H+ +2e- -> NADH + H+

[Bobby513]

A glucose molecule loses 4 hydrogens when it becomes 2 pyruvate, but 2 (NADH +H+) are produced

NAD+ +2H+ +2e- -> NADH + H+

What happens to the leftover H+ ion? Does it follow the NADH around or does something else happen?

I've seen some sources refer to NADH + H+ as NADH2 so they can avoid going into what that hydrogen ion is doing.

I can't work out if it's following the NADH around until the last phase of respiration when NADH is used to make atp, or if the H+ ion is diffusing away or doing something else.

Edited April 12, 2015 by Bobby513

[Bobby513]

To be more clear - I'm trying to work out what happens to the H+ ions that are released into solution when glucose becomes pyruvate, and when pyruvate becomes Acetyl-CoA. Perhaps they bind to a buffer (I can't find a source that says this), but I'm trying to work out what their final destination is. For example - if they did bind to a buffer I would like to know where the buffer releases them in the end.

[CharonY]

Check the step from 2-phosphoglycerate to PEP.