Science, Tech, Math › Science 12 Examples of Chemical Energy It's a form of potential energy Share Flipboard Email Print ThoughtCo / Grace Kim Science Chemistry Physical Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on September 25, 2019 Chemical energy is the energy stored within chemicals, which makes its energy inside atoms and molecules. Most often, it's considered the energy of chemical bonds, but the term also includes energy stored in the electron arrangement of atoms and ions. It's a form of potential energy that you won't observe until a reaction occurs. Chemical energy can be changed into other forms of energy through chemical reactions or chemical changes. Energy, often in the form of heat, is absorbed or released when chemical energy is converted to another form. Chemical Energy Examples Chemical energy is a form of potential energy found within chemical bonds, atoms, and subatomic particles.Chemical energy can be observed and measured only when a chemical reaction occurs.Any matter considered to be a fuel contains chemical energy.The energy can be released or absorbed. For example, combustion releases more energy than is needed to initiate the reaction. Photosynthesis absorbs more energy than it releases. Examples of Chemical Energy Basically, any compound contains chemical energy that can be released when its chemical bonds are broken. Any substance that can be used as a fuel contains chemical energy. Examples of matter containing chemical energy include: Coal: Combustion reaction converts chemical energy into light and heat.Wood: Combustion reaction converts chemical energy into light and heat.Petroleum: Can be burned to release light and heat or changed into another form of chemical energy, such as gasoline.Chemical batteries: Store chemical energy to be changed into electricity.Biomass: Combustion reaction converts chemical energy into light and heat.Natural gas: Combustion reaction converts chemical energy into light and heat.Food: Digested to convert chemical energy into other forms of energy used by cells.Cold packs: Chemical energy is absorbed in a reaction.Propane: Burned to produce heat and light.Hot packs: Chemical reaction produces heat or thermal energy.Photosynthesis: Changes solar energy into chemical energy.Cellular respiration: A set of reactions that changes the chemical energy in glucose into chemical energy in ATP, a form our bodies can use. Source Schmidt-Rohr, Klaus. "Why Combustions Are Always Exothermic, Yielding About 418 kJ per Mole of O2." Journal of Chemical Education. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "12 Examples of Chemical Energy." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/example-of-chemical-energy-609260. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 28). 12 Examples of Chemical Energy. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/example-of-chemical-energy-609260 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "12 Examples of Chemical Energy." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/example-of-chemical-energy-609260 (accessed March 25, 2023). copy citation Featured Video