Which of the following molecules has the greatest chemical potential energy?

• A. O2 (oxygen)
• B. H2O (water)
• C. CO2 (carbon dioxide)
• D. C6H12O6 (glucose)

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chemical potential energy is related to the energy stored in the chemical bonds of a molecule. Molecules with more complex structures and more bonds generally store more chemical potential energy.
2. Compare the molecular formulas and structures: O2 is a diatomic molecule with a double bond, H2O is a bent molecule with polar covalent bonds, CO2 is a linear molecule with double bonds, and C6H12O6 (glucose) is a large, complex molecule with many single bonds and functional groups.
3. Recognize that glucose (C6H12O6) contains many carbon-hydrogen (C-H) and carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds, which are high-energy bonds, as well as oxygen-containing functional groups, making it a rich source of chemical potential energy.
4. Recall that simpler molecules like O2, H2O, and CO2 have fewer bonds and less stored energy per molecule compared to glucose, which is why glucose is often used by living organisms as an energy source.
5. Conclude that among the given molecules, glucose has the greatest chemical potential energy due to its complex structure and numerous high-energy bonds.