Definition

A substance that is used in a chemical reaction to help detect, measure, or produce other substances.

Example

The scientist added a reagent to the solution to test for the presence of a specific chemical.

Conversation

Have you ever worked with a reagent in your chemistry class?

Yeah, we used one to test for acid levels in solutions.

That sounds interesting! What kind of reagent was it?

It was a litmus solution; it changes color depending on the pH.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Reagent → It is formed from "re-" (meaning again) and "agere" (meaning to act). The word refers to a substance that acts again or in response to another substance in a chemical reaction.

Memory Tip

Think of a substance that 'acts again' ('re-') in a chemical process, which helps you remember that a reagent is something that reacts with other substances.

Visually Confused Words