What does the term exergonic refer to?

The term exergonic refers specifically to reactions that release energy. In biochemical terms, exergonic reactions entail a negative change in free energy (ΔG), meaning that the products of the reaction have lower free energy than the reactants. This release of energy can be harnessed by cells to perform work or drive other chemical processes, essentially making it a critical concept in understanding metabolic pathways and energy transfer within living organisms.

In contrast, absorbed energy is associated with endergonic reactions, where energy must be put into the system to drive the reaction forward. Energy transformation refers to the conversion of energy from one form to another, which can occur in various types of reactions but does not specifically denote whether energy is released or consumed. Lastly, energy conservation refers to the principle of energy not being created or destroyed, but rather transformed from one form to another, which also doesn't specifically imply energy release. Thus, the concept of exergonic is fundamentally tied to the release of energy in biochemical reactions.