There are many different forms of energy, and these forms can be transformed into other types of energy also. Chemical energy is perhaps the most utilized form of energy and is a staple in our daily lives, irrespective of the type of energy we may be actively using. For example, the batteries that fuel our mobile phones utilize chemical energy in order to perform the various functions we need. The burning of fossil fuels for energy also uses chemical energy in the number of chemical reactions that take place in the process to be utilized in a number of different functions. When we burn coal in order to provide power or when we fill our car fuel tank with gasoline that is then combusted in order to power our vehicle chemical energy is the driving force used in the process.

Chemical energy is produced as a result the reactions that happen in chemical compounds. A chemical compound is a collection of a large number of atoms, all of which are bound to each other in order to form complex molecules. When these bonds are broken or loosened a chemical reaction occurs, thereby creating new compounds and releasing energy in the process.

If the resulting chemical reaction is an exothermic one energy will be released in the form of heat and the chemical compound is reduced accordingly. We can then cultivate and use this released energy in our daily lives. Other daily forms of chemical energy in action include the sun shining on the ground and warming it. When this happens, chemical reactions take place and they produce chemical energy in he form of heat.

Yet another example of chemical energy is the food that we eat every day in order to fuel and power our bodies. When we eat the molecules in the food we consume are broken into smaller bits and the bonds separating the molecules are also broken down. The energy is absorbed into our bodies and utilized by our muscles and other bodily processes and transformed into various forms of energy, including heat energy which causes us to sweat as a result of our exertions or even a fever when our body is actively fighting off an infection. We will also breath oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, which will in turn be absorbed by plants and used in the cycle of photosynthesis.

Chemical energy is perhaps the source of energy that is simplest to obtain and is definitely the most efficient energy form if energy we currently know of to store and to use. Chemical energy has provided a source of life and power for a multitude of species over the course of billions of years. We have used fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to power our technologies and industrial economies. These fuels produce a myriad of chemical changes and produce chemical energy, all of which can be traced back to the energy provided to these sources in their original (plant and animal) form.

Energy is, after all, a cycle. In modern times our technological advances have enabled us to utilize chemical energy towards renewable energy sources, and these sources may point the way to a safer, more sustainable future.

(Energy FAQ Series)

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