What is the process by which energy is released from nutrients in cells?

The process by which energy is released from nutrients in cells is known as cellular respiration. This biological process involves a series of chemical reactions that convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water. Essentially, it enables cells to extract energy from food molecules, making it available for various cellular functions necessary for survival.

Cellular respiration primarily takes place in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells, where the energy stored in nutrients such as glucose is released through aerobic processes. This release of energy is crucial for activities such as growth, repair, and maintenance of cellular functions.

While metabolism is a broader term that includes all chemical reactions within the body (both the release and use of energy), cellular respiration specifically refers to the process that releases energy from stored nutrients. Photosynthesis, on the other hand, is the process by which plants and some other organisms convert light energy into chemical energy, and fermentation is an anaerobic process of energy production that occurs in the absence of oxygen, mainly yielding less energy. Thus, cellular respiration is the most accurate answer when referring to the release of energy from nutrients.