What kind of energy increases in a substance as its temperature rises?

As the temperature of a substance rises, its thermal energy increases. Thermal energy is the energy associated with the temperature of a substance, and it is particularly related to the kinetic energy of the particles within that substance. When the temperature increases, the particles move faster, which contributes to the overall thermal energy of the substance.

This process can be understood through the kinetic theory of matter, which states that the temperature of a substance is directly proportional to the average kinetic energy of its particles. As particles move more vigorously at higher temperatures, their kinetic energy increases, leading to an increase in the thermal energy of the substance.

Total energy encompasses all forms of energy in a system, but it does not specifically refer to the energy changes that arise due to temperature changes. Chemical energy refers to the energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, which can be affected by reactions but is not directly linked to temperature rises in the context of this question. Hence, thermal energy is the most relevant and accurate choice when discussing energy increases due to temperature rises.