What is the difference between reagent and reactant

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Coelomate vs. Ocean vs. Judge vs. Flag vs. Forbear vs. Awesomely vs. Fat vs. Sonhood vs. Ricochet vs. Channel vs. Trending Comparisons. Mandate vs. A reagent is a compound that is added to a system in order to cause a chemical reaction. This reagent may or may not be consumed in the reaction. If it is consumed during the reaction, then that reagent is called a reactant. But sometimes reagents are used to initiate a reaction, to get a measurement of the reaction or to enhance a reaction.

A reagent can be in solid or liquid phase before adding it to a reaction mixture. For example, in acid-base reactions, indicator reagents are used to determine the end point of the reaction. This reagent gives a color change at the end point. Sometimes, catalyst reagents are used to enhance a chemical reaction. These catalysts can reduce the activation energy of reaction. There are reagents with specific names that are used for specific purposes. For example, Grignard reagent is used in the synthesis of aldehydes or ketones.

Sometimes, the used reagent can be recovered after the completion of the reaction. But, the reagent is sometimes used by the reaction as a reactant. Then it cannot be recovered for further use. Reagents are given an evaluation when they are produced. This reagent grading indicates the purity of the reagent and where to use that reagent. Some reagents are stored in dark bottles. That is because these reagents are sensitive to the sunlight and can be cleaved in the presence of light.

But other reagents are safe to be stored in transparent bottles. Laurence Lavelle Skip to content. Quick links. Email Link. Reactant vs. Are they used interchangeably, or is there an important distinction between the two that I should know? Re: Reactant vs. Reactant is what you point to in the balanced chemical equation. Although, this distinction is not often made and not that important.

As a student I wondered about this for a long time. Glad you asked. Happy 4th! Reagent Post by Rana YT 2L » Fri Oct 06, am While they may have different definitions, when they are used in a question, the two terms can essentially be used interchangeably.

When a reagent is used in a chemical reaction, it is called a reactant. Reagent Post by AnuPanneerselvam1H » Sat Oct 07, am A reactant is a substance that is consumed in the creation of a product in a chemical reaction.