Combustion is an example of what type of energy?

Combustion is a process in which a fuel reacts with an oxidizing agent, typically oxygen, resulting in the release of energy in the form of heat and light. This release of energy occurs because the chemical bonds in the fuel are broken and new bonds are formed, resulting in different chemical compounds, commonly products like carbon dioxide and water.

The energy stored in the chemical bonds of the fuel is classified as chemical energy. During combustion, the transformation of this stored chemical energy into thermal energy occurs, but the original form of energy associated with the fuel before ignition is indeed chemical energy. This is the reason chemical energy is the correct classification for combustion, as it fundamentally involves the energetic changes that take place at the molecular level during these reactions.

Understanding this concept helps clarify the distinction between the different forms of energy. For example, while thermal energy is produced as a result of combustion, it is the chemical energy that is initially present in the reactants that drives the entire process.