Chemical Energy

Many people do not realize that of all the various kinds of energy and power that humanity has created over the past several centuries, chemical energy is the form of energy that is used most often. Chemical energy is in fact a staple in our lives, and we use it every day no matter what form of energy we are using. Batteries that are powering our cell phones and television remotes use chemical energy to perform the functions we require. At a more fundamental level, the number of chemical reactions that takes place in the burning of fossil fuels also use chemical energy. When coal is burned to provide power all over the globe, or when gasoline is combusted in our automobiles, or even when natural gas is used to provide heating power in our homes, chemical energy is used.
Chemical energy is produced through reactions that occur in chemical compounds. A chemical compound is a simple collection of many atoms that are bound to each other. As the bonds between these atoms loosens or breaks, a chemical reaction will occur, and new compounds are created. When the bonds break or loosen, oxidation occurs almost instantly.
If the chemical reaction is one that is known to be “exothermic” energy in heat form will be released, and there is a reduction in the chemical compound. When this energy is released, we can harvest this energy as power to use in our every day lives. We observe chemical energy in action every day. When the sun beats on the ground to warm it, chemical reactions are occurring that produce chemical energy in the form of heat.
Where we obtain the chemical energy is in the bond that occurs between the various atoms of a specific molecule. When a molecule breaks down and converts into newer molecules, the energy between these bonds will be released. A simple example of this is when we eat food every day. The molecules in our food are broken down into smaller pieces, and the bonds between the atoms between the molecules are also broken down. The energy that we get from food is obtained through these broken bonds and is absorbed into our bodies to use in our every day life.
Chemical energy is possibly the easiest source of energy to obtain, and it is certainly the most efficient form of energy to use and to store. It is also readily available, as we can find it in just about everything we use every day. Chemical energy is known to be a source of life and source of power for many species for several billion years. Today, technology has advanced so that we can use chemical energy towards renewable energy sources that will affect our global future.