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AAT Bioquest

What are the differences between catalyst and reagent?

Posted April 19, 2022


Answer

Catalyst

  • Is a substance that is capable of increasing the reaction rate of a specific chemical reaction
  • Does not get consumed during the chemical reaction
  • Is capable of regenerating after the reaction is complete and can be used in other reactions
  • Can be classified as homogeneous (when it is in the same phase of matter as the reactant) or heterogeneous (when it is in a different phase of matter from that of the reactants)

Reagent

  • Is a substance or mixture that is used in chemical analysis and other reactions
  • May or may not be consumed during a chemical reaction
  • May or may not lower the activation energy of the reaction
  • May or may not regenerate after the reaction is complete
Additional resources

Catalyst free hydrazone ligation for protein labeling and modification using electron-deficient benzaldehyde reagents