How is energy treated in a chemical reaction in terms of conservation?

In a chemical reaction, energy is treated in accordance with the law of conservation of energy, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can be transformed from one form to another. When we look at option B, it correctly indicates that energy is balanced between absorbed and released energy.

During a chemical reaction, the energy can be absorbed to break bonds in the reactants, requiring an input of energy, and energy can also be released when new bonds are formed in the products. This transfer and conversion of energy can be observed in exothermic reactions (which release energy, often as heat) and endothermic reactions (which absorb energy). The overall energy change in a reaction—calculated as the difference between the energy absorbed and the energy released—illustrates this balance.

In essence, while energy is always conserved, the form in which it exists and the manner in which it is exchanged during the reaction can vary. This balance is a key concept in understanding thermodynamics and reaction kinetics in chemistry.