Answer: D. Breaking bonds absorbs energy (endothermic); making bonds releases energy (exothermic). Overall, \(\Delta H = (\text{energy to break reactant bonds}) - (\text{energy released forming product bonds})\).
For an exothermic reaction \(\Delta H\) is negative, which means more energy is released forming the product bonds than is needed to break the reactant bonds. Equivalently, the total bond energy of the bonds broken is less than that of the bonds formed, which is statement D.
A and B are misleading because what matters is the total bond energy, not the number of bonds. C reverses the relationship and describes an endothermic reaction. Answer D.
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