Chemical potential energy is stored in atoms and bonds and can be released through reactions. Strong bonds require more energy to break, but release more energy when formed. Examples include burning fuel and the human body using food as fuel. Chemical reactions can be analyzed mathematically.
Chemical potential energy is the energy stored in atoms and bonds between atoms and can be released by various chemical reactions. An example that most people are familiar with is the energy released when fossil fuels such as gasoline are burned. In this case, the chemical potential energy of the gasoline is released mainly in the form of heat. The human body releases the potential energy of food to be used as fuel. Chemical potential energy is present in many compounds and chemicals, both natural and man-made.
Bonds between atoms are the source of all chemical potential energy. Atoms with very strong ionic or covalent bonds have relatively low potential chemical energy, requiring a large amount of external energy simply to break the bonds. Weaker bonds, such as those of the van der Waal type, have more potential chemical energy, requiring relatively little energy to break.
Energy is released when these bonds form between atoms, and energy in chemical reactions is not created or destroyed. This means that chemical reactions can be analyzed as mathematical equations. Since a strong bond requires a large amount of energy to break, this must mean that when that same bond is formed, a lot of energy is released. By the same logic, when a weak bond forms, relatively little energy is released.
For example, when two hydrogen atoms bond to form a hydrogen gas molecule, they form a strong bond. This requires little external energy to accomplish. The chemical energy of atoms is released in the form of heat and light. To break the bond between the two atoms, the same amount of energy that was released when they bonded must be applied to break the bond. This energy will be absorbed by the atoms.
We encounter the mechanisms of chemical potential energy release every day. Burning gas in our cars is only one way. The way this energy is released is by combining oxygen molecules with fuel molecules. The oxygen molecules and the fuel molecules are linked with relatively weak bonds. When fuel burns, oxygen and fuel molecules are broken apart and recombine as carbon dioxide and water molecules, both formed with very strong bonds, thus a large amount of energy is released. This energy is then converted by the engine into kinetic energy and used to move the vehicle.
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