What energy stores energy in food and fuel?

• A. Light Energy
• B. Chemical Energy
• C. Sound Energy
• D. Heat/Thermal Energy

Answer: (B)

Chemical energy is the energy stored in the bonds of molecules. In food and fuel, energy sits in those chemical bonds. When you eat, enzymes break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, releasing that stored energy to power the body. When fuel like gasoline is burned, the chemical bonds in the fuel react with oxygen to release energy as heat and light. Light energy isn’t stored in the molecules of food or fuel itself, it travels as photons. Sound energy is the energy of vibrating matter, not stored in the chemical bonds of food or fuel. Heat or thermal energy describes energy due to particle motion, not the way energy is stored in the molecules themselves.