in the citric acid cycle, what molecule accepts the hydrogen atoms that are removed from substrates of the…

Brief Explanations:

In the citric - acid cycle, NAD⁺ acts as an electron - hydrogen acceptor. It gets reduced to NADH when it accepts hydrogen atoms from cycle substrates during oxidation - reduction reactions. Pyruvate is involved in glycolysis and the transition step before the citric - acid cycle, not as a hydrogen acceptor in the cycle itself. Water is a product of cellular respiration, not a hydrogen acceptor in the citric - acid cycle. Lactate is a product of anaerobic respiration and not relevant to hydrogen - accepting in the citric - acid cycle.

Answer:

NAD+