An oak tree gets nourishment from the Sun and produces acorns. Squirrels eat the acorns for food. What happens to the molecules in the food consumed by the squirrel?

Question

A.
The molecules get converted to energy only.
B.
The molecules are destroyed in the animal's body.
C.
The molecules get eliminated completely by the squirrel as waste.
D.
The molecules get converted to energy and other types of molecules.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

D. The molecules get converted to energy and other types of molecules.

When a squirrel consumes acorns, the molecules in the food are broken down during digestion. This process converts some of the energy stored in the food into usable energy for the squirrel's body. Additionally, the squirrel uses the building blocks from the broken down molecules to create other necessary molecules for growth, repair, and maintenance of its body.