Which of the following statements is true concerning the second stage of glucose breakdown?

The statement regarding two additional ATP being formed along with other electron carriers is accurate in the context of the second stage of glucose breakdown. In this stage, specifically during the process of glycolysis, glucose is metabolized in a series of enzymatic reactions that ultimately lead to the production of pyruvate. During glycolysis, a net gain of two ATP molecules occurs, though four ATP are produced in total. Additionally, important electron carriers, such as NADH, are generated, which play a critical role in cellular respiration as they transport high-energy electrons to the electron transport chain in the mitochondria.

The other statements do not accurately reflect the processes involved in the second stage of glucose breakdown. For instance, lactic acid production occurs during anaerobic respiration when glycolysis is followed by fermentation, rather than being a direct product of the glycolysis stage itself. The total ATP generated during glycolysis is more than just one, as there is a net gain of two ATP molecules. Finally, glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell, not exclusively in the mitochondria, which is where later stages of cellular respiration, such as the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation, occur.