CHEMICAL ENERGY

Energy stored in the bonds between atoms in molecules

CHEMICAL ENERGY
Chemical energy is a concept that is unmistakably related to every
single process of life on earth. Simply put, chemical energy is the
potential of a chemical system to undergo a transformation from one

system to another; or to impart a transformation on another chemical

system. Through simple redox chemistry, energy can be harvested from
nearly every molecule on earth. Chemical energy powers the cars that we
drive, fuels our bodies, creates glucose, and all living creatures on the

planet.

INTRODUCTION I
Chemical reactions undoubtedly involve the making and breaking
of chemical bonds (ionic and covalent) and the chemical energy of a
system is the energy released or absorbed due to the making and
breaking of these bonds. If a bond is broken, energy is released; and
if a bond is formed, energy must have been absorbed. As these
occur, a change in the chemical energy of the system also occurs.

INTRODUCTION II
Within each bond of a molecule is an experimentally determined amount of
energy, that upon the breaking of that bond is released into the chemical system.
The energy within these bonds are 'stored' and can be easily thought of as potential

energy. Upon the breaking of these bonds the energy is released thereby creating
usable energy. In terms of amount of energy, those more favorable to form require
less energy input than the bonds that are more difficult to form. The result is
higher and more accessible potential energy in less favorable bonds when compared
to more favorable.

INTRODUCTION III
Chemical energy coincides closely with the other forms of
energy in a system including both thermal and nuclear energy.
All of these sources are additive, resulting in the total energy
of the system (Usystem). With this said, we must keep in
mind the basics of internal energy of any system:

INTRODUCTION IV
As is true with any chemical system, energy must be defined
as both the potential and kinetic energies due to the fact that
atoms are subject to both repulsion and attraction to one
another as well as being with all molecules of the system as a
whole. To describe the concept of chemical energy further, we
can use the simple reaction: picture in next slide

FIGURE 1
A simple energy level diagram depicting energy must be

absorbed by the chemical system in the formation of bonds

and is therefore released if and when the bond is broken. This
energy may also be transferred when presented with a suitable
molecule capable of absorbing the excess energy.

INTRODUCTION V
Chemical energy can be seen in our every day lives more
than most of us would ever even believe and is essential to fuel
every living creature day in and day out. Chemical energy is
responsible for powering the cars that we drive, providing heat
to our homes, cooking our food (propane grills), and creating
usable energy in every living animal cell on earth.

FORMATION OF ATP I
Although this appears to be a reasonably complex chemical equation,
the concept is one that most are quite familiar with by now. It is in fact
two redox reactions occurring in unison. As the molecules of glucose are

broken into subsequent parts, energy is released (1mole=686kcal or

2870kJ), cellular machinery uses this energy to form phosphate bonds on
the adenosine diphosphate molecule (ADP) and form the higher, more
usable energy containing adenosine triphosphate molecule and waste

products.

FORMATION OF ATP II
We do not need to consider the role of oxygen in this explanation,
as it simply acts as an electron acceptor for the excess carbon atom.
As you can see, this process has the potential to function in a cyclic
fashion. As molecules of ATP are produced, cellular metabolism
breaks these molecules apart to use the energy contained within the
strong phosphate bonds and results in ADP + Energy. What this

process provides is usable, effective, and long term energy storage.

THE COM BU S TI ON OF FU EL I N CARS I

The hydrocarbon methane (CH4) as we know, is the main component
of the gasoline rely so heavily upon. That when combined with an
oxidizing agent O2 (g), and ignited, reacts violently in a subsequent chain

reaction and nearly complete combustion. The result is the release of a

significant amount of energy with of course water vapor and the ever
controversial CO2 as waste products. Each bond of hydrogen broken
releases around 410kJ of energy resulting in a net release of about 1640kJ

per molecule of methane.

THE COMBUSTION OF FUEL IN CARS II

This however, when combined with all molecules in the reaction

leads to a total net of 810kJ per mole. As reactants are formed into
products energy must be put into the system that is significant enough
to break the bonds of the CH4 molecule (the endothermic step); and
as the bonds are reformed during the creation of the product, an even
greater amount of energy is released, that had been previously

contained within those bonds.

CONCLUSION
As you can see, chemical energy plays a crucial role into each and
every one of our every day lives. Through simple reactions and redox
chemistry, the breaking and forming of bonds, energy can be
extracted and harnessed into a usable fashion.

AU REVOIR
CREDITS
DORAEMON DID ALL THIS
1.
2.

Arrivederci
3.

4.

saynara

Adis

-! (bi bi la)

ATP
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleoside triphosphate used in
cells as a coenzyme. It is often called the "molecular unit of currency"
of intracellular energy transfer. ATP transports chemical energy
within cells for metabolism. It is one of the end products of
photophosphorylation, cellular respiration, and fermentation and used
by enzymes and structural proteins in many cellular processes,

including biosynthetic reactions, motility, and cell division.