Final answer:
The statement is true; during cellular respiration, an exergonic reaction, the energy in the products is less than that in the reactants, as energy is released and stored in ATP.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: In cellular respiration, which is an exergonic reaction, the amount of energy in the products is less than that in the reactants. Cellular respiration is considered a catabolic reaction, where glucose is broken down into smaller units, such as carbon dioxide and water. This breakdown process releases energy that is captured by the cells, mostly in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which cells use to power various functions.
Exergonic reactions, including cellular respiration, are characterized by a negative change in enthalpy (∆H), meaning that the system releases energy. The products of the reaction, therefore, contain less energy than the reactants, since some of the energy is released to the surroundings and some is stored in ATP molecules. The ATP then contains high-energy phosphate bonds that can be readily used by the cell for work.