Final answer:
The statement regarding oxygen's ability to cross the cell membrane due to thermal energy is true; oxygen moves through the membrane via diffusion, a passive transport process that does not require cellular energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that oxygen is able to move across the cell membrane based upon its thermal energy is true. Oxygen passes through the cell membrane using a process called diffusion, which is a type of passive transport. During diffusion, oxygen molecules move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration. This movement is facilitated by the thermal motion of molecules and does not require any energy input from the cell.
In the context of the cell, since metabolism constantly consumes oxygen, the concentration of oxygen inside the cell is generally lower than outside. As a result, oxygen naturally diffuses into the cell. Similarly, carbon dioxide (CO2), produced as a byproduct of metabolism, has a higher concentration inside the cell and diffuses out. Both gases pass directly through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane.