The organelle that converts the chemical energy stored in food into compounds that are convenient for the cell to use is the mitochondrion.

Here's why:

* Mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses of the cell" because they are responsible for cellular respiration.

* Cellular respiration is the process of breaking down glucose (a sugar found in food) in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP.

* ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy currency of the cell. It's like a rechargeable battery that cells can tap into to fuel their activities.

So, the mitochondria take the chemical energy stored in food molecules and transform it into a usable form (ATP) for the cell.