ORGANIC CHEMISTRY Chapter 3 Energy and the relative Stability o kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion o Potential energy is stored energy. It exists only when an attractive or repulsive force exists between objects o Chemical energy is a form of potential energy o The relative stability of a system is inversely relative potential energy o The more potential energy an object has, the less stable it is Department of Chemistry, Xiamen UniversityORGANIC CHEMISTRY Department of Chemistry, Xiamen University Chapter 3 Energy and the Relative Stability Kinetic energy is the energy an object has because of its motion. Potential energy is stored energy. It exists only when an attractive or repulsive force exists between objects. Chemical energy is a form of potential energy. The relative stability of a system is inversely relative potential energy. The more potential energy an object has, the less stable it is