Escola Secundária de Loulé
Energy is involved in all chemical reactions. The energy held in the covalent bonds between atoms in a molecule is called chemical potential energy. Chemical potential energy is a form of potential energy related to the structural arrangement of atoms or molecules. This arrangement may be the result of chemical bonds within a molecule, interaction between molecules or crystal lattices in metallic or ionic structures. Chemical energy of a chemical substance can be transformed to other forms of energy by a chemical reaction. For example, when a fuel is burned its chemical energy is converted to heat, that can then be transformed into work that makes our car or another transportation work.
The same thing happens with biological metabolism. The chemical energy stored in our body may be transformed in order to provide us energy that we can use to move ourselves around.
The same thing happens with biological metabolism. The chemical energy stored in our body may be transformed in order to provide us energy that we can use to move ourselves around.
Green plants transform solar energy to chemical energy through the process known as photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis
Credit: www.caribbeanedu.com/kewl/science/science05.asp
Electrical energy can be converted to chemical energy through electrochemical reactions or vice-versa. Transformation of chemical energy into electricity is in fact one of our present major concerns. Most of our energy production is done in power plants where fossil fuels are burned in order to heat up water that makes turbines work in order to produce electrical power.
Where does the energy released in the chemical reaction come from? Every bond has a certain amount of energy. To break the bond requires energy - in chemical language breaking is said to be endothermic. If a bond is formed, energy is release – bond formation is called exothermic.
In a chemical reaction bonds are at first broken and afterwards atoms are again bonded together to create new molecules. Sometimes the energy released when new bonds are formed is bigger than the energy spent to break the initial bonds. The reaction is said exothermic. If the opposite occurs the reaction is said endothermic.
Combustions of carbon compounds like the one’s that occur in fossil fuels with oxygen are usually exothermic. When the reaction is exothermic the energy released in the form of heat can then be converted in order to produce electricity. There is a price to pay on this type of energy production: release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
In fact carbon compounds combustion's always produce CO2. For example for methane the combustion reaction is
Where does the energy released in the chemical reaction come from? Every bond has a certain amount of energy. To break the bond requires energy - in chemical language breaking is said to be endothermic. If a bond is formed, energy is release – bond formation is called exothermic.
In a chemical reaction bonds are at first broken and afterwards atoms are again bonded together to create new molecules. Sometimes the energy released when new bonds are formed is bigger than the energy spent to break the initial bonds. The reaction is said exothermic. If the opposite occurs the reaction is said endothermic.
Combustions of carbon compounds like the one’s that occur in fossil fuels with oxygen are usually exothermic. When the reaction is exothermic the energy released in the form of heat can then be converted in order to produce electricity. There is a price to pay on this type of energy production: release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
In fact carbon compounds combustion's always produce CO2. For example for methane the combustion reaction is
Emission of carbon dioxide is major concern because it contributes to global warming. This is why we are now trying to develop new ways of producing energy that do not require the combustion of fossil fuels.
No comments:
Post a Comment