When burning fuel like logs in a fire, which energy stores are involved in the transfer?

When burning fuel such as logs in a fire, the process primarily involves a transfer of energy from the chemical energy store to the thermal energy store.

Logs contain stored energy in the form of chemical bonds within their structure. When they are ignited, a chemical reaction occurs – specifically combustion – which releases this stored energy. This reaction transforms the chemical energy present in the logs into thermal energy, which is the energy related to heat. The thermal energy is what heats the surrounding air, warms up objects nearby, and produces light and heat from the fire.

This explanation highlights the essential transformation occurring during the burning process and illustrates how energy moves from one store, where it is stored in a stable form (chemical), to another store, where it manifests as heat (thermal).