What happens when a chemical bond is formed?
(1) energy is always absorbed
(2) energy is always released
(3) more energy is released than is absorbed
(4) energy is neither released nor absorbed
Answer: (1) If a bond is broken, energy is released; and if a bond is formed, energy must have been absorbed. As these occur, a change in the chemical energy of the system also occurs. Within each bond of a molecule is an experimentally determined amount of energy that, upon the breaking of that bond, is released into the chemical system. The energy within these bonds is ‘stored’ and can be easily thought of as potential energy. Upon the breaking of these bonds, the energy is released, thereby creating usable energy.
