Final answer:
The correct answer is that the chemical energy in the reactants of a rotting apple is almost equal to the chemical energy in the products, which means that there is little energy change and hence, neither energy absorption nor release is significantly perceived.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is related to the reason why a rotting apple is a reaction in which energy is neither absorbed nor released. The correct answer is A. The chemical energy in the reactants is almost equal to the chemical energy in the products. This situation implies that the overall energy change for the reaction is approximately zero. The process of decay in a rotting apple involves complex biochemical reactions, which lead to a state that is rather close to a chemical equilibrium where the energy content of the reactants and products tends to be balanced.
In the context of energetics, when the potential energy of reactants and products is similar, it typically means that the reaction is not predominantly exergonic (energy-releasing) or endergonic (energy-absorbing), hence the perception that energy is neither significantly absorbed nor released. It’s important to remember that in exothermic reactions, energy is released because the products have a lower energy than the reactants, while in endothermic reactions, energy is absorbed to create higher energy products from lower energy reactants.