Term: fermentation https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02337 Definition: In metabolism, the dehydrogenating degradation of organic substance by organisms or cells under anaerobic conditions in which electrons are transferred to metabolites which accumulate and are excreted in reduced form. Fermentation is only possible if the organism is able to gain energy by this process. Related Terms: 1) metabolism (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03858). 2) metabolites (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03859). 3) anaerobic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00316). Source: Citation: 'fermentation' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.F02337 License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms. Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.