Pyruvic acid, also known as 2-oxopropanoic acid, is a three-carbon organic compound with the formula CH3COCOOH. It is the simplest keto acid and plays a central role in carbohydrate metabolism, serving as a key intermediate in both glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. In a molecule of pyruvic acid, there are a total of 12 chemical bonds:

1. Carbon-Carbon Bonds (C-C): There are three carbon atoms in pyruvic acid, forming two carbon-carbon bonds.

- C1-C2 bond: This is a single bond between the first and second carbon atoms.

- C2-C3 bond: This is a double bond between the second and third carbon atoms, forming the carbonyl group (C=O).

2. Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds (C-H): There are seven carbon-hydrogen bonds in pyruvic acid.

- C1-H bonds: There are three hydrogen atoms attached to the first carbon atom, forming three C-H bonds.

- C2-H bond: There is one hydrogen atom attached to the second carbon atom, forming one C-H bond.

- C3-H bonds: There are three hydrogen atoms attached to the third carbon atom, forming three C-H bonds.

3. Carbon-Oxygen Bonds (C-O): There are two carbon-oxygen bonds in pyruvic acid.

- C2-O bond: This is a double bond between the second carbon atom and one of the oxygen atoms, forming the carbonyl group (C=O).

- C3-O bond: This is a single bond between the third carbon atom and the other oxygen atom, forming the carboxylic acid group (-COOH).

4. Oxygen-Hydrogen Bond (O-H): There is one oxygen-hydrogen bond in pyruvic acid.

- O3-H bond: This is a single bond between the oxygen atom of the carboxylic acid group (-COOH) and the hydrogen atom, forming the hydroxyl group (-OH).

In summary, there are two carbon-carbon bonds (C-C), seven carbon-hydrogen bonds (C-H), two carbon-oxygen bonds (C-O), and one oxygen-hydrogen bond (O-H) in one molecule of pyruvic acid, totaling 12 chemical bonds.