Chemical Energy: The Greatest Source Of Energy Used By Man
Not many people know that chemical energy produces most of the electricity that our society uses. This is the energy that comes from chemical changes. When chemicals move around they give off energy that goes to its source as chemical energy.
Where can we find it? The most popular source is the batteries. Everything that goes on batteries uses this kind of energy. So, flashlights, calculators, electronic clocks or even airplanes use it. They all use the energy released from chemical reactions. This energy is stored within the bonds of atoms. The bonds are the forces that keep together the atoms. More atoms together form a molecule. When atoms separate, they start looking for other partners, and forming other bonds. This new combinations represent new bonds, and form other molecules. Then, every molecule moves apart, traveling with the help of kinetic energy. We are then in the presence of a chemical reaction. Every chemical reaction forms new ones and releases new energy. This small natural process lasts less then a fraction of a second. Of course all this process must obey some laws, called the laws of thermodynamics.
The majority of our available chemical energy comes from the burning of the fossil fuels particularly, and the scientists' desire of finding other new sources. A common way of producing it is the heat of combustion. The burning of propane, a common fuel for stoves, and the gasoline, the common fuel for electric generators, are the most known ways of producing chemical energy. We can also use methane, natural gas, or the burning of coil. The preferences between propane based stoves and the stoves that use gasoline are just a matter of taste. The price of propane and gasoline in the area you live in will be the decisive aspect.
Not many people know that they are in contact with chemical energy almost all the time. Let's take food for example. The human body converts the chemical energy contained in your food, for heating your body, or in mechanical energy, to keep your body running. Pieces of firewood, gasoline, the car battery or the gasoline that your car uses, contain certain amounts of energy.
Nowadays, the scientists, in our society need of energy, try to find new ways of producing it. The source is not so important, as long as the natural resources could disappear. They could use chemical energy or the power of the sunlight. It doesn't matter as long as we have enough energy to use.