ENERGY

It is defined as the capacity to do work, where work is the process of causing matter to move against
an opposing force. Like matter, energy exists in different forms: chemical energy, electrical energy,
heat energy, light, solar, nuclear, etc.

Energy can be classified into:

1. Potential energy – possessed by matter by virtue of its position, condition, or composition.
Example: water at the top of a waterfall possesses potential energy because of its position.
2. Kinetic energy – possesses by matter because of its motion.
Example: as water falls from the top of a waterfall, its potential energy becomes kinetic energy.

Laws of Matter and Energy

1. Law of Conservation of Mass and Energy

This law states that “mass and energy are neither created nor destroyed they are just transformed
from one form to another”. Many studies on chemical reactions have shown that the total mass of
the reactants are the same as the total mass of the products after a chemical reaction. Matter is
changing to energy and energy to matter. The sum of all matter and energy in the universe always
remain the same.
Law of conservation of mass:
Total mass of reactants = Total mass of products

Law of conservation of energy:

Total energy before reaction = Total energy after reaction

Chemical energy of reactants = Chemical energy o products + Transformed energy

In exothermic chemical reactions, where energy is liberated or given off, chemical energy is
exothermic into heat energy, but some may involve other kinds light and electrical energy. In the
less common endothermic reactions, where energy is absorbed, heat, light, or electrical energy is
converted to chemical energy.

2. Law of Definite Composition or Law of Definite Proportion

This law states that “all samples of a pure compound contain the same element in a define
proportion by mass”. Knowing the proportion of each element in a compound is important in
identifying the compound.

3. Law of Multiple Proportion

This law states that “when two elements combine to form more than one compound, the different
weights of one that combine with a fixed weight of the other are in the ratio of small whole numbers”.