Question

What determines the amount of chemical energy a substance has?

Answer 1

The amount of chemical energy a substance has is determined by its composition and the chemical bonds present. Composition affects potential energy because it determines which chemical bonds are present and how strong they are.

Step-by-step explanation:

The amount of chemical energy a substance has is determined by its composition. Different chemicals have different amounts of potential energy, and this potential energy depends on the composition of the substance. Composition affects potential energy because it determines which chemical bonds are present and how strong they are. The energy stored in the chemical bonds is what determines the amount of chemical energy a substance has.

Answer 2

Chemical energy is the kind of energy stored in the bonds formed by atoms and molecules in chemical compounds and elements. This energy is released during a chemical reaction and heat is often given out in the process. These kind of reactions where heat is given out as a by product are called exothermic reactions.

The major factor that determines how much chemical energy a substance has is the mass of that substance. Mass is defined as the amount of matter in a substance.

The higher the mass of a substance, the more concentrated that substance is and subsequently the greater the number of atoms and molecules.

Logically, the higher the number of atoms and molecules then the greater the number of bonds in that substance and subsequently the more the amount of chemical energy stored therein.