Why does the oxidation of organic compounds by molecular oxygen to produce CO₂ and water release free energy?
a) the covalent bonds in organic molecules and molecular oxygen have more kinetic energy than the covalent bonds in water and carbon dioxide.
b) electrons are moved from atoms that have a lower affinity for electrons (such as C) to atoms with a higher affinity for electrons (such as O).
c) the oxidation of organic compounds releases less energy than the energy stored in the covalent bonds of CO₂ and water.
d) the covalent bond in O₂ is unstable and easily broken by electrons from organic molecules.