Bioenergetics is the study of energy flow through living systems. Energy is required by all organisms and can be in kinetic or potential forms. Kinetic energy is energy of motion like heat or light, while potential energy is stored energy like in chemical bonds. Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in cells and manages energy and material resources. Catabolic pathways release energy through exergonic reactions like cellular respiration. Anabolic pathways use this energy in endergonic reactions like photosynthesis to build molecules. ATP couples exergonic and endergonic reactions by transferring a phosphate during its hydrolysis and reformation. This allows cells to do work like transport or muscle contraction.