Definition of Reagents in Chemistry

Definition of Reagents in ChemistryA definition of reagents in chemistry can be very useful. The term usually denotes substances that are used to perform chemical reactions. There are many types of reagents and each one has specific functions.When a chemical reaction is required, the substances used in the process is called the catalyst or the reagent. There are two types of reagents in chemistry; solid and liquid. Solid reagents are the ones that are used to initiate chemical reactions. It is also known as inert or inactive materials.One of the main functions of the solid reagent is to slow down the reaction of the chemical process. The other function is to facilitate the flow of the gas to the reaction point. Some of the common uses of solid reagents include the dilution of the chemicals to achieve a desired volume, checking if a substance is mixed properly with the other ingredients of the chemical process, sterilization of the container, concentration of some chemicals and introd uction of the chemical into a new container for further processing. Reagents can also be prepared to mix with alcohols or ethyl acetate in the industrial settings.The reagent also plays an important role in the chemical process. They are usually dissolved in liquid and serve as carriers to carry the chemical to its intended destination. This is why it is necessary to dilute the reagents prior to use. As mentioned earlier, reagents can also be used to mix some chemicals.There are many ways that the reactions are carried out and it is because of this reason that the chemical reactions can be slow. This can be overcome by adding more reagents to the mixture. An example would be the addition of sulfur to carbon dioxide in a chemical reaction. The carbon dioxide would turn to sulfur and then the reaction proceeds as it is supposed to. The use of water is another way to speed up a chemical reaction. When the reaction is stopped for a short period of time, the chemical reaction begins agai n without using as much of the reagent. Some scientists prefer to use fresh reagents for a longer period of time and some prefer to use reagents that have been used before and then replace them with fresh ones for a more efficient reaction. Others may prefer to use a new reagent every time a chemical is mixed with a different one.Reagents are classified as organic, inorganic, metallic and molecular. Organic reagents are those that are chemical compounds that are inorganic and usually they are organic compounds such as carbon, sulfur, and oxygen, or carbon and nitrogen. Inorganic reagents are those that are inorganic compounds that do not have organic elements in them and they are usually copper and sulfur compounds.In terms of their usage, the reagents are grouped according to their function or application. These groups include analytical, metal, structural, bacteriological, enzyme, polar, and others. There are several reagents in chemistry that are used in isolation and others that are used in combinations. Many reagents have different functions and some of them are categorized based on their reactivity.