Chemical Potential energy
Chemical potential energy is energy that is stored in atoms and the 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
instance, the chemical potential energy of
the gasoline is released mainly as heat. The human body releases the chemical potential
energy of food to use as fuel. Chemical
potential energy
is present in many compounds and chemicals, both naturally occurring and man
made.
The bonds between atoms are the source of all chemical potential
energy. Atoms with very strong bonds of the
ionic or covalent type have relatively low potential chemical energy, as it requires a large amount of
outside energy simply to break the bonds. Weaker
bonds, like those of the van der Waal type, have more potential chemical energy, as they require relatively
little energy to break.
Energy is released when these bonds form
between atoms, and the energy in chemical
reactions is not created or destroyed. This means that chemical reactions may be analyzed like mathematical
equations. Since a strong bond requires a large amount of energy
to break, this must mean that when that same bond forms, much energy
is released. By the same logic, when a weak bond forms, relatively little energy is released.
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
instance, the chemical potential energy of
the gasoline is released mainly as heat. The human body releases the chemical potential
energy of food to use as fuel. Chemical
potential energy
is present in many compounds and chemicals, both naturally occurring and man
made.
The bonds between atoms are the source of all chemical potential
energy. Atoms with very strong bonds of the
ionic or covalent type have relatively low potential chemical energy, as it requires a large amount of
outside energy simply to break the bonds. Weaker
bonds, like those of the van der Waal type, have more potential chemical energy, as they require relatively
little energy to break.
Energy is released when these bonds form
between atoms, and the energy in chemical
reactions is not created or destroyed. This means that chemical reactions may be analyzed like mathematical
equations. Since a strong bond requires a large amount of energy
to break, this must mean that when that same bond forms, much energy
is released. By the same logic, when a weak bond forms, relatively little energy is released.