Catalyst vs. Reagent

Catalystnoun

(chemistry) A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.

Catalystnoun

Someone or something that encourages progress or change.

Catalystnoun

(literature) An inciting incident that sets the successive conflict into motion.

Catalystnoun

(automotive) A catalytic converter.

Catalystnoun

a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected; as, thousands of enzymes serve in concert as calaysts to produce the sequence of reactions we call "life"; the industrial production of cheap ammonia depended on finding a good catalyst.

Catalystnoun

something that serves as a precipitating occasion for an event; as, the invasion acted as a catalyst to unite the country.

Catalystnoun

something or someone that causes events to happen with itself being changed.

Catalystnoun

(chemistry) a substance that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without itself being affected

Catalystnoun

something that causes an important event to happen;

Catalystnoun

a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change

Catalystnoun

a person or thing that precipitates an event

Reagentnoun

(chemistry) A compound or mixture of compounds used to treat materials, samples, other compounds or reactants in a laboratory or sometimes an industrial setting.

Reagentnoun

A substance capable of producing with another a reaction, especially when employed to detect the presence of other bodies; a test.

Reagentnoun

a chemical agent for use in chemical reactions

Reagent

A reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or added to test if a reaction occurs. The terms reactant and reagent are often used interchangeably—however, a reactant is more specifically a substance consumed in the course of a chemical reaction.