Final answer:
The correct answer is option C. Chemosynthesis is the process by which certain organisms use chemical energy from inorganic molecules to produce organic matter, and is particularly important in environments where sunlight is not available for photosynthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which energy is derived from the interior of the Earth and is used by certain organisms to form organic matter is known as chemosynthesis.
Unlike photosynthesis, which uses light energy, chemosynthesis involves the transformation of inorganic molecules such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, or methane into organic compounds using the chemical energy stored in these molecules.
This process is essential in ecosystems where sunlight is not available, such as in deep ocean vents where organisms rely on chemosynthesis to produce food using gases from the Earth's interior. Chemosynthesis is a crucial life process that underpins entire ecosystems in these extreme environments, much like photosynthesis supports life in more typical, sunlit environments.