Fermentation

A chemical reaction in which carbohydrates are broken down into carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This is primarily brought about by the affect that yeast has on sugars. For example, bread dough rises because yeast reacts with the dough to create carbon dioxide gas, which causes the bread to rise. Alcohol is produced through the fermentation of grape juice, which yields wine. Fermentation is used commercially to produce a wide variety of alcoholic beverages.