AFOQT Practice Test

In a chemical reaction, what are the substances called that undergo the change?

1. Products

2. Reagents

3. Catalysts

4. Solvents

The correct answer is: Reagents

In a chemical reaction, the substances that undergo the change are referred to as reactants. These are the initial materials that participate in the reaction and are transformed into new substances by the end of the process. While "reagents" is often used synonymously with reactants in certain contexts, it typically refers to substances that are used in a reaction to produce a chemical transformation and may not fully capture the role of reactants as the entities that change during the course of the reaction. The correct terminology is essential in chemistry to convey the relationships and processes accurately. Understanding the role of reactants allows for a clearer comprehension of the chemical equation and its balance. Products, on the other hand, represent the substances created by the reaction, while catalysts facilitate the reaction without being consumed, and solvents are the mediums in which reactions occur but do not themselves undergo a chemical change.