Final answer:
Chemical energy is the most common source of heat in combustion reactions, as it is stored in the molecular structure of fuels and released as heat upon combustion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common source of heat in combustion reactions is chemical energy. Chemical energy is a type of potential energy stored in the molecular structure of fuels like gasoline and is released as thermal energy or heat when these fuels undergo combustion. In the presence of oxygen, combustible materials ignite, resulting in a chemical reaction that transforms the stored chemical potential energy into heat, which may then be converted into other forms of energy such as mechanical or electrical energy, for various applications.