If a reaction is exothermic, what is true about the amount of energy required to break the bonds of the reactants compared to the energy released when the products are formed?
a) Less energy is required to break the bonds than the energy released when the products are formed.
b) More energy is required to break the bonds than the energy released when the products are formed.
c) The same amount of energy is required to break the bonds as the energy released when the products are formed.
d) Energy is not involved in bond breaking or formation in exothermic reactions.