The 64-bit-capable kernel that was added in 10.6 is cool, but basically irrelevant to user applications. Over different versions of OS X, what comes with the OS has gradually migrated from 32-bit-only (through 10.2) to having minimal support for background-only 64-bit apps (10.3 and 10.4), to full support for 64-bit Cocoa apps (10.5), to a full 32/64 OS including the kernel (10.6) to actually starting to drop support for 32-bit mode (10.7 shipped with many 64-bit-only system apps, and will not run on a 32-bit-only CPU). Long answer: OS X doesn't have 32-bit and 64-bit versions it uses a universal binary format which allows programs, system components, etc to be installed with both 32- and 64-bit code, and the system simply picks the "best" one to use based on the CPU you're on. You can check the CPU with the command sysctl hw.cpu64bit_capable ( 0 means no, 1 means yes) or by looking up the model (if it has a "Core Solo" or "Core Duo" CPU it's 32-bit only if it's a "Core 2 Duo" - note the "2" - it's 64-bit).
Short answer: if your model of MacBook has a 64-bit capable CPU, you can run 64-bit apps under 10.5.8.
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