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GCSE level Physics exam revision notes: Types of
energy store
Chemical
energy defined & examples explained
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ENERGY INDEX: Types of
energy & energy stores, energy transfers & selected energy
calculations
(a) Examples of chemical energy stores
This page will help you answer questions
such as ... What is a chemical energy store? Give some examples of chemical energy stores. Examples of chemical energy stores are
explained
Index of types of
energy stores/transfers
 Chemical energy
stores
and chemical energy transfers
-
Chemical energy is 'stored' or
'bound up' in chemical elements/compounds by virtue of their chemical
structure.
-
A chemical energy store consists of
chemicals that release energy when they react e.g.
-
 Burning hydrocarbon
fuels like petrol from crude oil converts stored chemical energy into
thermal (heat)
energy,
-
Animals metabolising foods like fats and carbohydrates
releases energy to power living cells in any organism - they provide
energy to power the chemistry of life and provide heat energy for
mammals like us!
-
 Discharging a charged car
battery containing sulfuric acid solution and lead
electrodes coverts chemical energy to electrical energy.
-
A zinc-carbon-acidic paste battery is convenient for use
in torches.
-
Fuels cells can run of the chemical energy store of
hydrogen and oxygen, converting the chemical energy into electrical
energy.
-
Explosive materials
have an enormous potential to release energy - they are a very
concentrated chemical energy store.
-
-
 Since chemical energy is a form
of stored energy e.g. a battery or tank of fuel, it does nothing until it is released and converted into
another form of energy - usually electrical energy or heat energy.
-
INDEX
of energy changes-transfers
in chemical reactions notes (gcse chemistry notes)
-
See
Thermal
energy notes for a simple calorimeter experiment to
measuring the efficiency of a fuel in terms of thermal energy output.
Measurement of the efficiency of a fuel using a simple
calorimeter
When a fuel is burned, the chemical potential energy
contained in the fuel is converted to thermal energy.
The diagram shows a simple calorimeter system for measuring the heat given out by a liquid fuel burner.
The experiment data for burning four fuels A, B, C and D is given below.
Typically, 100 ml (100g) of water is used in the calorimeter to 'collect' the
thermal energy ('heat') given out.
The mass of fuel burned and the temperature rise of the water are given.
A relative measure of the thermal energy output of the
fuel per unit mass of fuel (relative efficiency) is easily obtained by
dividing the temperature rise by the mass of fuel burned.
The most efficient fuel will give the biggest ratio.
| Fuel |
Mass of fuel burned (m) |
Temperature rise oC
(T) |
T/m |
Comments |
| A |
1.20 g |
24.5 |
20.4 |
|
| B |
0.80 g |
12.0 |
15.0 |
Least efficient fuel |
| C |
1.75 g |
28.0 |
16.0 |
|
| D |
0.90 g |
19.5 |
21.7 |
Most efficient fuel |
Sections 6. and 7. from
Energy Changes in Chemistry
give you lots more details on calorimeter experiments. (GCSE
chemistry notes)
Key points for Physics -
chemical energy store
conversions - energy transfers involving chemical energy
Information
sources for Doc Brown's key points: IGCSE-GCSE physics are based on textbooks
& syllabus-specifications for students taking the UK AQA,
Edexcel, OCR 21st Century Science, OCR Gateway science suite, WJEC, CCEA &
CIE GCSE
physics 9-1 level science examinations.
A comprehensive and exam-board-aligned summary of
chemical energy
stores, tailored for students preparing for GCSE/IGCSE Physics
across WJEC, CCEA, CIE, AQA, Edexcel, and OCR:
Chemical Energy Stores – GCSE Physics Revision
Notes
What is a Chemical Energy Store?
- Definition:
Energy stored in the chemical bonds of substances.
- Released
during chemical reactions, such as combustion,
respiration, or electrochemical reactions.
- Not visible,
but measurable by the energy transferred when bonds are broken or formed.
Examples of Chemical Energy Stores
| Example |
Description |
| Fuels |
Petrol, diesel, coal, natural gas –
release energy when burned |
| Food |
Contains chemical energy used by the
body for movement and heat |
| Batteries |
Store energy chemically and release it
as electrical energy in circuits |
| Explosives |
Rapid release of chemical energy as
heat, light, and sound |
Energy Transfers Involving Chemical Stores
| Scenario |
Energy Transfer Pathway |
From → To |
| Burning fuel in a car |
Mechanical (via engine) |
Chemical → Kinetic + Thermal |
| Eating food and exercising |
Biological (via respiration) |
Chemical → Kinetic + Thermal |
| Battery powering a torch |
Electrical (via circuit) |
Chemical → Electrical → Light +
Thermal |
| Fireworks exploding |
Heating, sound, light |
Chemical → Light + Sound + Thermal |
Transfer Pathways (HERM)
Use the acronym HERM to
remember the 4 main energy transfer methods:
- Heating
- Electrical
- Radiation
(light, sound)
- Mechanical
(forces doing work)
Exam Tips for All Boards
Know the 8 energy stores:
- Chemical, Kinetic, Gravitational
Potential, Elastic Potential, Thermal, Magnetic, Electrostatic, Nuclear
Use correct terminology:
- Say “energy is transferred from the
chemical store of the fuel to the thermal store of the surroundings,” not
“energy is made.”
Draw energy transfer diagrams:
- Use arrows to show direction and type of
transfer (e.g., Sankey diagrams for efficiency)
Apply to real-life contexts:
- Think of everyday examples: phones, cars,
food, batteries
Practice with past papers:
- Each board may phrase questions
differently, but the core concepts are the same
EXTRA NOTE on some everyday examples of
using chemical energy
Chemical energy is everywhere - it’s the
hidden powerhouse behind many of the systems we rely on every day. Here are
some real-world applications that bring this invisible
energy store to life:
Transportation
- Fuels like petrol, diesel, and jet
fuel release chemical energy
through combustion to power vehicles, planes, and ships.
- Electric vehicles
use batteries that convert stored chemical energy into
electrical energy to drive motors.
Home and Daily Life
- Cooking:
Gas stoves burn propane or natural gas to release heat.
- Heating:
Boilers and furnaces burn fuels like oil or gas to warm homes.
- Batteries:
Power everything from remote controls to smartphones by converting chemical
energy into electricity.
Biological Systems
- Food:
Our bodies break down food molecules during respiration,
releasing chemical energy to fuel movement, growth, and warmth.
- Photosynthesis:
Plants convert sunlight into chemical energy stored in glucose, which
supports nearly all life on Earth.
Electricity Generation
- Power stations
burn coal, oil, or natural gas to heat water, producing steam that turns
turbines and generates electricity.
- Fuel cells
use chemical reactions (often hydrogen and oxygen) to produce clean
electricity without combustion.
Industrial & Emergency Uses
- Explosives:
Rapid release of chemical energy used in mining, demolition, and fireworks.
- Hot/cold packs:
Use exothermic or endothermic chemical reactions for first aid or sports
injuries.
Keywords, phrases and learning objectives
on chemical energy stores
Be able to describe examples of chemical energy stores
e.g. fossil fuels and foods including vegetable oils,
animal fats and carbohydrates like starch and rice from plant sources
and processed carbohydrates like glucose sugar.
All of these are oxidised in some way to release
the chemical store energy to e.g. power chemical reactions in
cells, power furnace to provide thermal (heat) energy.
All the chemical
reactions here are
exothermic - thermal or electrical energy released.
Know that batteries, e.g. zinc-carbon, and fuels
cells e.g. a hydrogen-oxygen cell are also chemical stores which
convert chemical store energy into electrical energy.
WHERE
NEXT?
Specific notes on types of energy and energy stores and
associated calculations
FULL INDEX of
Types of energy & stores - examples compared/explained, calculations of
mechanical work done & power notes
All my ENERGY notes
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