What is Chemical Energy

What is Chemical Energy? This question is an easy one to answer.

We all use it every day. Actually every movement you see is a result of chemical energy.

Ball-and-stick model of the methane molecule, CH4. Methane is part of a homologous series known as the alkanes, which contain single bonds only.

So what do I mean by that? Well, when you move an arm, the muscles need energy. So does your nervous system to send the impulse to your muscles in the first place. And not to forget your brain (your biggest energy consumer in your body's household, by the way. But the good news is that it is green energy :)

So since you are not eating all day (or night...or are you??? :) ) the body has to store energy so it can survive and function till the next time you storm the fridge.

So - this is very much simplified - whenever you eat something the body "digests" the food in order to gain energy for the future.

There are different chemicals to store the energy in the body - fat the most obnoxious of those - with sugar the most important one.

So sugar is nothing else than Carbohydrates - Hydrogen connected to Carbon.

Ever heard that your car runs on - gasoline, yes sure, but - Carbohydrates? Yes, in the end your fuel from your friendly filling station around the block is nothing else than Carbohydrates.

So Carbohydrates have Chemical Energy. Though in completely different and incompatible ways, biology and Bugatti use chemical energy.

Your Bugatti would not thrive on your night's ice cream. It is not equipped to turn the sugars - Carbohydrates - into useable energy.

This is just one example of Chemical Energy. Our bodies use Chemical Energy to store energy until we need it.

So what is Chemical Energy?

Chemical Energy is energy stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules. Biomass, petroleum, natural gas, and coal are examples of stored chemical energy. Chemical energy is converted to thermal energy when we burn wood in a fireplace or burn gasoline in a car's engine.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

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