What term refers to the chemical processes within a living organism that provide energy?

The term that refers to the chemical processes within a living organism that provide energy is metabolism. Metabolism encompasses all the biochemical reactions that occur within cells, allowing organisms to grow, reproduce, maintain their structures, and respond to their environments.

Metabolism is broadly divided into two categories: anabolism and catabolism. Anabolism refers specifically to the processes that construct molecules from smaller units, requiring energy, while catabolism is the breakdown of larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy in the process. Homeostasis, on the other hand, is the regulatory process that maintains a stable internal environment within an organism but does not specifically address the energy-producing chemical processes. Therefore, metabolism is the most comprehensive term that accurately describes the overall chemical processes that yield energy for the organism.