What is the role of particular reagent in reaction?

Question

Accepted Answer

The role of a particular reagent in a reaction is to initiate, catalyze, or participate in the reaction.

Reagents can be used to initiate a reaction by providing energy or a catalyst to start the reaction.
Reagents can also be used to catalyze a reaction by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur.
Reagents can participate in a reaction by reacting with other molecules to form new products.
For example, in the reaction between hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide, the reagent hydrochloric acid initiates the reaction by providing the hydrogen ion necessary for the reaction to occur.
In the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and potassium iodide, the reagent potassium iodide catalyzes the reaction by providing a surface for the reaction to occur on.
In the reaction between acetic acid and ethanol, the reagent acetic acid participates in the reaction by reacting with ethanol to form ethyl acetate.

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