Among the different types of energies that exist, we have the chemical energy. It is the one that is contained or that occurs through chemical reactions between the molecules of one or more compounds. It is the internal energy that a body has based on the types of chemical bonds that it has inside and that occurs between its components. This energy can be measured depending on the amount that can be released from chemical reactions between them.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about chemical energy and its importance.
Key features
Chemical energy is always associated with matter, when the chemical bonds of atoms and molecules that make up matter change, chemical energy appears. This can happen in the presence of a heat source or other substance that is exchanged with the particles, generating generally heat, light, or other forms of energy derived from the reaction.
Therefore, chemical energy is a form of potential energy contained in chemical substances. Once these substances participate in the reaction, they will be transformed into other usable forms of energy. Thus, for example, the process of combustion of gasoline and other fossil hydrocarbons works.
The use of this form of energy may be relatively new in the history of mankind, but it is not in the history of the world: since ancient times, life has used energy acquisition processes such as photosynthesis and chemical synthesis to utilize the molecular chemical potential of substances. For example, gasoline converts chemical energy into kinetic energy when used in moving vehicles.
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can be transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed. Furthermore, chemical energy is a form of potential energy that is used to transform into other forms of energy that have practical applications in human life, such as light energy, thermal energy, kinetic energy, etc., to do work.
Advantages and disadvantages of chemical energy
This type of energy is used in industry and production since it has certain advantages. Let's see what are the different advantages of chemical energy:
- It has great performance: Thanks to its high performance, large amounts of chemical energy are not required to obtain energy from its molecules.
- Allows you to modify the matter: The chemical reactions that take place for the production of this type of energy can produce different types of matter that in many cases can be used to obtain new materials.
- It allows to reuse and take advantage of waste materials: for example, bioethanol and other biofuels are formed from organic matter that without using this type of energy would decompose uselessly.
Keep in mind that there are also some disadvantages to this type of energy. Let's see what are the different disadvantages of chemical energy:
- It has by-products: These are products that can become polluting substances such as fossil fuels, which during their use generate toxic gases into the atmosphere and pollute.
- They require constant inputs: we must bear in mind that for a chemical reaction to take place it must have a consumption or combustion of organic matter to feed the chemical reaction at all times.
Chemical energy of food
The food we eat every day is an ideal example of chemical energy and its use. These foods contain different organic substances necessary to provide energy to our body, as if it were fuel for car engines.
These organic substances are broken down in our body to obtain glucose, which is oxidized during cellular respiration and releases a large amount of heat in the form of calories to maintain bodily functions. The excess glucose turns into fat that serves as a reserve for future needs. This is a type of chemical energy harnessing of glucose to produce mechanical energy that we use to move, speak, stand, run, etc. They also serve to enhance the electrical energy that neurons use and that allow us to think.
Types of chemical energy
There are 6 basic types of reaction:
- Combustion: It is used to obtain a large part of the energy with which cars and electricity run.
- Synthesis: It is the energy that is given off when two simple substances come together to form a more complex one.
- Simple scrolling: an atom of one substance is transferred to another substance.
- Double shift: the atoms of two substances are exchanged with each other.
- Decomposition: a complex substance becomes a simpler substance.
Examples
Once we know what chemical energy is and what its advantages and disadvantages are, now it is time to see some of the most common examples:
- Fossil fuels: gasoline, diesel and petroleum-based fuels predominate here. All of them are made up of a series of molecules that are based on carbon and hydrogen atoms whose bonds can be broken in the presence of oxygen to release large amounts of energy. This is known as combustion.
- Foods: As we have mentioned before, the food we eat has glucose contained that can be oxidized in our body. By breaking the links we can obtain a caloric load to maintain the energy of the body.
- Bioluminescence: We know that there are living organisms that have the ability to produce light with their bodies for survival. For example, we have the lanternfish that are found in the depths of the oceans and that need this bioluminescence in order to attract their prey. This light energy comes from chemical energy that your bodies store in symbiont relationship with some bacteria.
- Space travels: rockets in charge of traveling to outer space in order to study the universe work through controlled chemical reactions with various substances such as hydrogen and liquid oxygen. These substances are converted into huge amounts of kinetic energy that are used to move the rocket.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about chemical energy and its characteristics.