Metabolism refers to all chemical reactions that occur in a cell.

• A. Metabolism
• B. Catabolism
• C. Anabolism
• D. Exergonic Reactions

Answer: (A)

Metabolism is the full set of chemical reactions that occur in a cell, spanning both the breakdown of molecules for energy and the building of new molecules using energy. This makes it the best answer because it captures the entire network of processes, not just one aspect. Catabolism refers specifically to the pathways that break down molecules, releasing energy, and anabolic pathways refer to the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones; both are essential parts of metabolism but do not define it in its entirety. Exergonic reactions describe energy-releasing reactions, a type that occurs within metabolism, but they are not the umbrella term for all cellular chemistry.