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Reactant: meaning, definitions and examples

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reactant

 

[ rɪˈæktənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

chemistry

A substance that takes part in and undergoes change during a reaction.

Synonyms

compound, reagent.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
reactant

Useful in chemistry to describe substances that undergo change during a chemical reaction.

  • In the reaction, the reactants are hydrogen and oxygen, producing water.
  • Both reactants were mixed in the test tube.
reagent

Applied in laboratory settings to refer to a substance used to cause a chemical reaction, often in testing or analysis.

  • The reagent changed color, indicating the presence of the substance.
  • We added the reagent to the sample to observe the reaction.
compound

Used broadly in chemistry to describe a substance made from two or more elements chemically bonded together.

  • Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
  • Sodium chloride, salt, is an example of a chemical compound.

Examples of usage

  • The reactants are the substances that are present before the chemical reaction takes place.
  • In a chemical equation, the reactants are written on the left side.
  • The reactant molecules collide with each other to form new products.

Translations

Translations of the word "reactant" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reagente

🇮🇳 प्रतिक्रियाशील

🇩🇪 Reaktant

🇮🇩 reaktan

🇺🇦 реагент

🇵🇱 reagent

🇯🇵 反応物

🇫🇷 réactif

🇪🇸 reactante

🇹🇷 reaktan

🇰🇷 반응물

🇸🇦 مادة متفاعلة

🇨🇿 reagens

🇸🇰 reagencia

🇨🇳 反应物

🇸🇮 reaktant

🇮🇸 viðbragðsefni

🇰🇿 реагент

🇬🇪 რეაქტენტი

🇦🇿 reaktant

🇲🇽 reactante

Etymology

The word 'reactant' originated in the mid-19th century, derived from the Latin word 'react-' meaning 'act again'. It was first used in the context of chemistry to describe substances involved in chemical reactions. Over time, 'reactant' has become a common term in the field of chemistry to refer to the starting materials that undergo change in a chemical reaction.

See also: nonreactive, reactance, reaction, reactions, reactive, reactively, reactivity, unreactive, unreactiveness.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,325, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.