Final answer:
Metabolism is the correct answer. It refers to the uptake and use of chemical compounds by microbes for energy and other processes. This includes catabolism and anabolism, where substances are broken down and new molecules are synthesized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is B) Metabolism. Metabolism is the term used to describe all of the chemical reactions that occur in a cell. It involves the uptake and use of chemical compounds by microbes for energy and other processes. This includes the breakdown of substrates for energy (catabolism) and the synthesis of new molecules using the energy and building blocks obtained from catabolism (anabolism). For example, bacteria can metabolize a wide range of organic and inorganic substances, converting them into other forms. They can use complex organic molecules like cellulose as well as inorganic molecules and ions such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and iron.