Mica Piro Chapter 9: Cellular Respiration & Fermentation Catabolic Pathways Yield Energy by Oxidizing Organic Fuels (9.1) Catabolic Pathways and Production of ATP Organic compounds possess potential energy as a result of the arrangement of electrons in the bonds between their atoms Compounds that can participate in exergonic reactions can act as fuels Through enzyme activity, a cell systematically degrades complex organic molecules that are rich in potential energy to simpler waste products that have less energy (some energy used to do work; the rest is released as heat) One catabolic process called fermentation is a partial degradation of sugars or other organic fuel that occurs without the use of oxygen