Final answer:
Potential energy stored in chemical bonds is released when these bonds are broken during chemical reactions, which is used by cells to perform various functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
As potential energy goes down, we're releasing energy from these molecules. This energy is often stored in the form of chemical bonds, which have a certain amount of potential energy due to the electrical forces holding atoms together in a molecule or compound. When these bonds are broken during chemical reactions or metabolic processes, such as when an organism breaks down food, this potential energy is released.
Cells can then use this released energy to perform work, including crucial processes like cellular respiration. Breaking molecular bonds within fuel molecules, like glucose, results in the release of energy that is used to make ATP, the energy currency of the cell.