What term describes the process of adding a phosphate group to glucose?

The process of adding a phosphate group to glucose is accurately referred to as phosphorylation. This biochemical reaction is crucial in cellular metabolism, particularly in the pathways involved in energy production, such as glycolysis.

Phosphorylation of glucose occurs when a phosphate group, often derived from ATP (adenosine triphosphate), is transferred to the glucose molecule. This modification serves several important purposes: it helps to trap glucose within the cell, as phosphorylated glucose cannot easily cross the cell membrane; it also primes glucose for subsequent steps in metabolism. In the case of glycolysis, the addition of a phosphate group is the first step that facilitates the conversion of glucose into energy.

In contrast, decarboxylation involves the removal of a carboxyl group from a molecule, hydrolysis refers to the breakdown of a compound by reaction with water, and oxidation involves the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state. These processes are distinct and do not pertain directly to the addition of a phosphate group to glucose. Therefore, phosphorylation is the correct term to describe this specific biochemical reaction.