Which term is used for substances listed in a chemical equation that will be combined?

Which term is used for substances listed in a chemical equation that will be combined?

• A. Reactant
• B. Product
• C. Law of Conservation of Matter(Mass)
• D. Metal

Answer: (A)

In a chemical equation, the substances on the left side are the ones that participate in the reaction; they are the starting materials that will be combined or interact. These are called reactants. The substances that appear on the right side are the products—what is formed after the reaction. The law of conservation of matter is about mass being preserved during the reaction, not the label for the starting substances. A metal is just a type of element and doesn’t describe the role of substances in a reaction. For example, in H2 + O2 -> H2O, hydrogen and oxygen are the reactants, and water is the product.

In a chemical equation, the substances on the left side are the ones that participate in the reaction; they are the starting materials that will be combined or interact. These are called reactants. The substances that appear on the right side are the products—what is formed after the reaction. The law of conservation of matter is about mass being preserved during the reaction, not the label for the starting substances. A metal is just a type of element and doesn’t describe the role of substances in a reaction. For example, in H2 + O2 -> H2O, hydrogen and oxygen are the reactants, and water is the product.