Which type of energy is described as stored in chemical bonds between atoms?

Chemical energy is the form of energy that is stored in the bonds between atoms in a molecule. When chemical bonds are formed or broken during chemical reactions, this energy can be released or absorbed. For instance, when a fuel undergoes combustion, the chemical bonds in the fuel molecules break, releasing energy that can be harnessed for work, such as powering an engine.

This stored energy is vital for all biological processes as well, such as cellular respiration in living organisms, where glucose molecules are broken down to release energy for metabolic activities. The potential energy stored in these chemical bonds is what defines chemical energy specifically, differentiating it from other forms of energy such as kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion, or nuclear energy, which comes from the forces that hold atomic nuclei together.