Final Answer:
The energy transformation taking place in the chipmunk when its cells use the plant's sugars to carry out cell processes is a conversion from chemical energy to thermal energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the process of cellular respiration, the chipmunk breaks down the sugars obtained from the plant to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The chemical energy stored in the bonds of glucose molecules is released through a series of metabolic reactions, including glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. The overall chemical equation for cellular respiration is:
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP
Here, glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) from the plant is combined with oxygen (O₂) to produce carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and energy in the form of ATP. The breakdown of glucose involves the oxidation of carbon atoms and the transfer of electrons, releasing energy that is stored in the high-energy phosphate bonds of ATP.
As the chipmunk utilizes ATP to power various cellular processes, a portion of the energy is inevitably lost as heat. This thermal energy is a result of the inefficiencies in the conversion and utilization of ATP, consistent with the second law of thermodynamics, which states that not all energy can be converted into useful work.
Thus, the primary energy transformation in the chipmunk involves the conversion of chemical energy stored in plant sugars to thermal energy as the ATP is utilized for cellular functions.