Step 1: Understanding metabolic intermediates.
Citric acid, oxaloacetic acid, and pyruvic acid are important intermediates of cellular respiration.
Step 2: Counting carbon atoms.
Citric acid is a six-carbon compound formed by the condensation of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate.
Oxaloacetic acid contains four carbon atoms.
Pyruvic acid is a three-carbon compound formed during glycolysis.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct order of carbon atoms is 6, 4, and 3.