Reagent: meaning, definitions and examples
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reagent
[ riˈeɪdʒənt ]
chemistry
A substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction or test. Reagents are commonly used in laboratories for experiments and analysis.
Synonyms
chemical agent, reactant
Examples of usage
- The scientist added the reagent to the solution to observe the color change.
- After mixing the reagents together, a precipitate formed in the test tube.
biology
A substance used to detect the presence of another substance or organism in a biological sample. Reagents in biology are essential for various tests and assays.
Synonyms
biological indicator, testing agent
Examples of usage
- The reagent reacted with the protein, indicating its presence in the sample.
- The biologist used a reagent to test for the presence of glucose in the urine sample.
Translations
Translations of the word "reagent" in other languages:
🇵🇹 reagente
🇮🇳 प्रतिक्रियाशील पदार्थ
🇩🇪 Reagenz
🇮🇩 reagen
🇺🇦 реагент
🇵🇱 odczynnik
🇯🇵 試薬 (しやく)
🇫🇷 réactif
🇪🇸 reactivo
🇹🇷 reaktif madde
🇰🇷 시약 (試藥)
🇸🇦 كاشف كيميائي
🇨🇿 reagent
🇸🇰 reagent
🇨🇳 试剂 (shìjì)
🇸🇮 reagent
🇮🇸 hvarfefni
🇰🇿 реагент
🇬🇪 რეაგენტა
🇦🇿 reagent
🇲🇽 reactivo
Word origin
The word 'reagent' originated from the Latin word 'reagens', which means 'repelling'. In the field of chemistry, the term reagent has been used since the 18th century to refer to substances used in chemical reactions. Over time, its usage expanded to biology and other scientific disciplines where reagents play a crucial role in experiments and analysis.
See also: agency, agents, bioagent, counteragent.