Final answer:
Form of oxidation that releases a large amount of energy from a fuel is Combustion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Combustion is a rapid chemical reaction that occurs when molecules of oxygen combine with molecules of fuel, resulting in the significant release of energy in the form of light and heat.
This can occur when burning common fuels such as coal, wood, or diesel. An example of a combustion reaction is the burning of octane (C8H16) in the presence of oxygen, producing carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and heat.
Another related process is cellular respiration, which is an oxidation reaction that takes place within cells. In this biological process, oxygen is combined with fuel molecules (such as glucose) to release the stored energy in a controlled manner through a series of enzyme-mediated reactions. This energy is captured in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the main energy carrier in the cell.
While direct combustion releases energy as heat, which can be inefficiently converted to mechanical or electrical energy, energy produced from bio-oxidative processes like cellular respiration or through fuel cells can be utilized at high efficiency levels.