While sometimes used interchangeably with the term “reactant”, reagents and reactants are quite different. In a chemical reaction, a reagent binds to something and thus triggers a reaction. ... However, a reactant is consumed. A reactant is a substrate in a reaction, whereas a reagent is a catalyst.

Are limiting reagents and reactants the same?

The limiting reactant (or limiting reagent) is the reactant that gets consumed first in a chemical reaction and therefore limits how much product can be formed.

What is a reagent in a reaction?

A reagent in chemical science is a “substance or compound that is added to a system in order to bring a chemical reaction or is added to check whether a reaction is occurred or not.” Such a reaction is used to confirm the detection of the presence of another substance.