Energy, released when chemical demonstration

Use the molecular models to represent what happens when a fuel burns. Show that in order to start a reaction, energy needs to be put in to break bonds between atoms in the fuel and oxygen molecules. Show this by physically breaking apart some models. Explain that in the reaction, new molecules form - these are carbon dioxide and water. Energy is released when bonds are formed (as shown in the next demonstration). The name for the chemical reaction in which fuels burn in oxygen is combustion (Chapter 7). 

The remarkably high photon yields observed for several of the reactions of Table 3.9 hold much promise for efficient chemical laser operation. These reactions demonstrate that radiant energy can be efficiently obtain from chemical reactions even when the released energy initially resides uong nonradiating states. What is needed is a kinetic mechanism which acts to ensure that this radiant energy is emitted from the upper state of an inverted population. 

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