Reagents
Reagents
Reagents (/riˈeɪdʒənts/) are substances or compounds that are added to a system in order to bring about a chemical reaction or are used to detect, measure, examine, or produce other substances.
Etymology
The term "reagent" is derived from the Latin word "reagere", which means "to react". It was first used in chemistry in the early 19th century.
Types of Reagents
There are several types of reagents used in various fields of study. Some of the most common types include:
- Acid: A substance that donates a proton or accepts an electron pair in reactions.
- Base: A substance that accepts a proton or donates an electron pair in reactions.
- Solvent: A substance, usually a liquid, in which other substances (solutes) are dissolved forming a solution.
- Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.
- Oxidizing agent: A substance that has the ability to oxidize other substances — in other words to accept their electrons.
- Reducing agent: A substance that has the ability to reduce other substances — in other words to donate electrons.
Use in Medicine
In medicine, reagents are often used in laboratory tests to detect, measure, or produce other substances. For example, reagents may be used in a blood test to detect the presence of certain chemicals, or in a biopsy to help identify the presence of disease.
Related Terms
- Chemical reaction: A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.
- Chemical substance: A form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
- Chemical compound: A chemical substance composed of many identical molecules composed of atoms from more than one element held together by chemical bonds.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Reagents
- Wikipedia's article - Reagents
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