Final answer:
Energy is absorbed or released during the forming or breaking of chemical bonds, a process that is central to chemical reactions. The concept of bond energy is a key part of understanding these processes, as it quantifies the energy transfer involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Energy is absorbed or released whenever chemical bonds form or are broken. The amount of energy required to break a bond, known as bond energy, is the same amount of energy released when a new bond is formed.
During chemical reactions, bonds between atoms and molecules are broken and new ones are formed, which involve this transfer of energy.
Chemical potential energy is stored in these bonds, and during a reaction, this potential energy is converted to other forms, such as kinetic energy.
Whether energy is absorbed or released during a chemical reaction determines if the process is endothermic or exothermic.
In the human body, we see an example of this when we consume food: our bodies break down food molecules, releasing the chemical energy stored in the bonds to be used by our muscles.