What is the energy of chemical potential?
The energy of chemical potential is the 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 energy are released when fossil fuels are burned like gasoline. In this case, the energy of the chemical potential of gasoline is released mainly as heat. The human body releases the energy of the chemical potential of food used as fuel. The energy of chemical potential is present in many compounds and chemicals, both naturally and man.
Atoms bonds are a source of all energy potential energy. Atoms with very strong bonds of ion or covalent type have relatively low potential chemical energy because it requires a large amount of external energy to simply interrupt bindings. Weaker bonds, as well as van der Waal type, have more potential chemical energy because they require relatively little energy to break.
energy is released, toWhen these bonds are formed between atoms, and energy in chemical reactions is not created or destroyed. This means that chemical reactions can be analyzed as mathematical equations. Since a strong link requires breaking a large amount of energy, it must mean that when the same binding is formed, a lot of energy will be released. The same logic, when weak binding is formed, release relatively little energy.
For example, when two hydrogen atoms are combined to form a hydrogen gas molecule, form a strong bond. This requires little external energy. The chemical energy of atoms is released as heat and light. In order to interrupt the binding between two atoms, the same amount of energy that has been released must be used to break the binding. This energy will be absorbed by atoms.
We encounter mechanisms of energy release of chemical potential every day. Burning gas in our cars is just one way. THit that this energy is released by a combination of oxygen molecules with fuel molecules. Oxygen molecules and fuel molecules are bound by relatively weak bonds. When the fuel burns, the oxygen and fuel molecules are distributed apart and recombred as molecules of carbon dioxide and water, which are formed with very strong bindings, so that large amounts of energy are released. This energy is then converted by the engine into kinetic energy and is used to move the vehicle.