Which Best Describes a Catabolic Reaction

Question

Which best describes a catabolic reaction?
A) It involves the expenditure of energy.
B) It involves the anabolic production of complex molecules.
C) It involves the breakdown of life sustaining processes within cells.
D) It involves the breakdown of large organic molecules to simple building blocks.
E) It involves the synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple building blocks.

Accepted Answer

Catabolic reactions are processes in cells that break down large molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process. This is in contrast to anabolic reactions, which build complex molecules from simpler ones.